Hopkinsville nonprofit, the Joy Closet launched their Hope House initiative on Thursday where they invited the community to learn more about their mission to expand support for children in the foster care system.
Joy Closet focuses on supporting foster care children, families and children in crisis by providing them with need-based donated items such as clothing, toys and sanitary products within the Pennyrile region.
In 2023, Joy Closet Executive Director, Heather Gray announced that the nonprofit was working toward establishing the Hope House which will house children who were removed from their homes instead of placing them at a Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) office. The Hope House will include resources for children and keep them comfortable as members of DCBS search for homes for them.
On Thursday, Joy Closet hosted an informational lunch and dinner where they, along with regional DCBS workers and Legacy Metals, shared how the initiative will help children in need and how the community can support their mission.
DCBS Supervisor, Kayleigh Graves shared what intake currently looks like. Last week, Graves says they had to find placement for children at night. Until they could find placement, Graves says the children heard them making call after call, there was no space for them to sleep and they also didn’t have clothes or hygiene items with them.
With the Hope House, Graves says children will be able to play with toys or sleep while DCBS workers are making calls, and there will be resources available for them.
After hearing from DCBS workers Gray introduced Julia Roberts, a foster parent and the Hope House Manager. Roberts talked about her first time being a foster parent, two young children were placed at her home and she says she wanted to be able to show them love and make sure they were comfortable, but the first thing she had to was bathe them and find clothes that fit them.
Roberts says on the possible worst day of their lives, these children should at least have what they need and the Hope House will work to accomplish that.
Gray says her idea to form the Hope House started when she also witnessed how the adoption placement process works, and saw that children did not have an extra change of clothes or a place to sleep after being removed from their homes. After Joy Closet has been in the community for over two years, Gray says she’s happy to help children who are being removed from their homes and invites the community to step up and help make the Hope House a reality.
Donations to support the Hope House’s creation can be made at joycloset.org/hopehouse. The nonprofit also has opportunities for donors to sponsor a square foot of the home or sponsor a room.
Photo courtesy of Hope House- Joy Closet on Facebook