ROCHELLE – With the stay-at-home order forcing many businesses to close, a local nonprofit thrift store is desperately in need of donations to ensure being able to reopen and continue helping fund its partner nonprofit. 

The Hope Chest “Twice Loved Boutique” is an upscale thrift store located in downtown Rochelle that has been serving the community and helping local domestic violence victims for 10 years. The Hope Chest donates all its proceeds to HOPE of Ogle County and is asking the community for help during these tough times.

HOPE of Ogle County, the local domestic violence organization, and the Hope Chest work together to help victims in the community. At the thrift store, people donate new or used items, which the store cleans, prices and resells. 

“We are self-sufficient and don’t utilize any funds from grants within the system,” said Jodie Hart, manager at the Hope Chest. “So, once our overhead is paid for such as, utilities, payroll and garbage, whatever is left, which is usually a big portion, all goes back to HOPE for their services to help clients.”

The thrift store also helps individuals going through the HOPE system come to the store. The store will provide them with anything they need, whether its clothes, furniture or pots and pans so they can remain in a safe environment. 

But with the current stay-at-home order, no new income is being brought in and expenses still need to be paid. This also means HOPE of Ogle County is not receiving any funds from the Hope Chest to help fund their services. 

While the Hope Chest is unable to apply for grants, HOPE of Ogle County recently received some funds from a COVID-19 grant provided by the Rochelle Area Community Foundation. The grant funds will be used to help pay for necessary expenses to keep the organization open, but funds are still needed to help to continue providing direct services to clients.  

“We applied for a COVID grant that they were giving out to non-profits and we received confirmation last week that we will be receiving funds,” said Ruth Carter, HOPE director. “It will help replace a portion of the loss of revenue that we normally bring in through Hope Chest, and we are so thankful.”

April is usually the organization’s busiest month, bringing in approximately $13,000, and the grant is replacing $6,000 of that. But with the stay-at-home order now extended through May 30, HOPE will continue to see losses.

Through the current situation, HOPE of Ogle County continues to offer individual counseling for adults and teens, mostly through telephone. Some crisis situations warrant seeing clients in person and when doing so, all necessary protective and social distancing precautions are taken. 

Unfortunately, individual and group services for children have been postponed, except for crisis services in shelter. Emergency shelter and emergency orders of protection are also still being offered for those who need it. For anybody in need of help, the first thing they should do is call HOPE’s 24/7 hotline. 

“Our main line is 815-562-8890 and people can call anytime, we are always open,” said Carter. “Hotline information is also listed on our website at www.hopedv.org and Facebook page. 

During these tough times, monetary donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and go along way. Without the community’s help, there is no certainty that these organizations will be able to continue serving the community in the future. 

Anybody who would like to donate to either the Hope Chest or HOPE of Ogle County can do so online at www.hopedv.org and clicking the purple donate button. Donations can also be done by mailing a check to P.O. Box 131, Rochelle. 

Donors can specify in the memo section if they want it to go to Hope Chest or HOPE of Ogle County. Many people in the community depend on these organizations and they don’t want to let those people down. 

“We have a lot of people that come in and shop here on a day-to-day basis,” said Hart. “So, I want to be able to continue to be open for the community.”