The 19th Annual Holiday Hope Chest

Holiday Hope Chest (HHC) provides an interactive event where community members (students, volunteers) create and establish a Holiday shopping experience for families in the community who are experiencing financial hardship that year.

The shoppers will receive vouchers from local community agencies, which they will exchange for Holiday Hope Chest Dollars on their designated shopping day, enabling them to pick up items for their loved ones in time for the holidays. Community agencies will identify eligible individuals and families. The size of the project is dependent on the number of partners participating.

Please consider joining this worthwhile project. Partners are needed at both donation sites and for identification of shoppers (voucher administration).

To donate, please contact:
Duane & Patty Knecht at pattyknechthhc@gmail.com
Brian Hughes at brianh@cciu.org

We are a registered 501(c) charitable organization. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.

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History

This organization started with a single site in the winter of 2003 at the Center for Arts and Technology Brandywine Campus in Coatesville.  The first year the response was overwhelming and HHC was able to serve around 100 families.  The numbers continued to grow over the years, and HHC made a successful transition from Coatesville to the Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus in Downingtown.

In 2012, HHC saw the first major area for growth when longtime volunteer Brian Hughes led a second location at the TCHS Pennock’s Bridge Campus.  In the summer of 2014, the charity became officially recognized by the government, receiving 501(c) status. In 2015 HHC served over 400 families between the two locations.

Specific objectives and purposes

To provide an opportunity for community members and/or entities to enhance the lives of families in financial need by facilitating the collection and distribution of new and gently used toys, clothing, and other items during the holiday season

To coordinate and facilitate opportunities for community members and/or entities to donate new and gently used toys, clothing, and other items

To collect new and gently used toys, clothing, and other items

To distribute new and gently used toys, clothing, and other items

To engage in other activities related to providing opportunities for the community to enhance the lives of families in financial need

News

Daily Local News: “Christmas comes early for struggling families in Chester County”