The business known as “The Hope Chest” has a unique name and a unique purpose.

According to Tish Burkhalter, the name was derived from the old-fashioned chests which women used to save clothing and household goods in.

Burkhalter said it is also a place of Hope. People donate items that are in good condition and these items are passed on to people in need. She said the store brings hope to people who have lost everything in a fire or other disaster or anytime a person has a need. The Hope Chest also receives referrals from churches, hospital, women’s shelters and other organizations.

Although the store was not open yet, this point was proven when a frantic woman came to the front explaining that she had lost everything in a fire the previous day. Although Burkhalter had a day of plans and appointments, she welcomed the woman inside and 9-year-old Emma Burkhalter helped the woman find sizes and items she needed. Emma also bagged the woman’s selections for her.

Letting someone in the store before the official opening is not an unusual thing for Tish Burkhalter to do. She and her husband, Brian, are co-founders of Families Feeding Families and she oversees a variety of community service projects. In addition to being a mother of five, Burkhalter is a full time college student at SOSU. She used to major in early childhood development but recently changed her major to sociology and psychology. Burkhalter said she chose these fields because they will help her be more successful in her community work and in understanding and helping others. The Hope Chest is one of the programs that she feels strongly about.

She said people are going through hard times with lay-offs and the failing economy and helping others is something she and her family enjoys doing. She said they meet great people, have become more social and she has the opportunity to oversee projects like the Hope Chest.

Burkhalter said people do not have to complete an application sheet in order to “shop” at the Hope Chest. She said they do ask people to complete a short information sheet. This is merely for the records of the non-profit organization, grants and so on.

Burkhalter said there is no income requirement. “If you have a need, we are here.”

She said the store is about helping people “keep dignity in harder situations. Our goal is not to make it a hand out; it is to offer hope and give people the ability to further their situation.”

Burkhalter said what she would like to do is to make the store more like a department store and comfortable for shoppers. “I want it to be fun,” she said. Burkhalter said she would like to add lighting, get some painting done and add more display options in the Hope Chest.

With school approaching, Burkhalter foresees a large need for gently-used clothes in good condition. When asked, Burkhalter said the way to decide whether clothes should be donated is to ask yourself “Is this something you want your kid to wear?”

Burkhalter said there is always a big need for business clothes. She said for many people the biggest obstacle to finding a job is the lack of having dress clothes for interviews.

She said they are not a clothes closet but a store that offers a variety of needs for families.

One of her plans for the future is to have clothes baskets on hand that are filled with household items and ready to go to families who have suffered a fire, loss of home or other situation where they are starting over.

There are many ways people can help the volunteer-ran store. Burkhalter said they sometimes get workers through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families training programs and they have a couple regular volunteers who she termed “invaluable” but, she said, they can always use more volunteers.

“It’s a great opportunity for senior citizens,” Burkhalter said. Volunteering can also add to work resumes and people can gain experience in retail work. She said right now they need help with sorting through donations, hanging clothes and organizing before the grand opening.

Asked what hours volunteers are needed, Burkhalter said, “We’ll work on your schedule.” She said people who are interested in volunteering or who want to donate can call 580-230-9142.

Burkhalter said someone who could donate a few handiwork hours would also be greatly appreciated.

Emma Burkhalter isn’t new a volunteering. It is something she has been doing since she was four years old. She said she likes helping people. “I help them find stuff they need and help them look for the sizes of clothes they need.” She said she just helps wherever she can.

When asked what else the store needed for donations, Tish Burkhalter said they could use large totes with lids for storage of out-of-season items, large trash bags, display shelves and they always appreciate donations of items they can pass on to others.

She said monetary donations are always appreciated as well. These donations help pay the bills and as available, assist with special needs a person might have that is not available in the Hope Chest.

The tentative grand opening for the Hope Chest is on Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Hope Chest is located at 114 S. 7th Ave. and is a project of the organization Families Feeding Families.