Local couple leads The Hope Chest
Published 12:05 am Thursday, November 7, 2019
- Please consider giving to The Hope Chest
LAPLACE — Toya Paul of LaPlace knows how it feels to sleep under bridges and on park benches.
Her experiences as a homeless teen and as the victim in a long-term abusive relationship made her empathetic to the everyday struggles people face. She knew from an early age that she would find a way to make a difference.
Since August, she and her husband Gerald Paul have operated “The Hope Chest” out of an extra room in their backyard guesthouse. Clothing and nonperishable food donations collected from members of The Hope Chest Facebook group fuel a guiding mission to find a need and fill a need.
“My history kind of brought this about,” Paul said. “I understand where the need comes from, and I’ve always wanted to help. That’s always guided me through my career. I know this sounds weird, but the vision for this came straight from God. He said, you have this space. You have this idea. Let’s put it together and make this happen.”
When her family moved into a home with a guesthouse only used a couple of times per year, Paul felt called to find a greater purpose for the space.
On a strike of inspiration, Paul ordered business cards and started The Hope Chest group on Facebook. The group has amassed more than 180 members thus far, and donations have come in rapidly and abundantly, much to Paul’s surprise.
“I have the vision,” Paul said. “This feels good to me. This feels like what I’m supposed to be doing.”
The Hope Chest is a community initiative open to people in need and people who can fill those needs with donations. Individuals can request assistance on The Hope Chest Facebook page through a Google form specifying their needs. Paul will contact the person seeking assistance within two days, and personal information on the Google forms will remain confidential.
Once the items needed are collected, Paul will set up a drop-off in a public location. One popular location is the Safe Internet Exchange Zone located at Dunkin Donuts in LaPlace. However, exchanges for donations can be coordinated in LaPlace, Kenner or Metairie.
All donations delivered to families in need are tagged with a special Hope Chest butterfly sticker that reminds Paul of her late father. She asks nothing in return of families who receive help, except that they pay it forward however possible.
Food baskets have been one of the biggest needs, according to Paul. Baskets stocked with non-perishables and bread have gone out to 11 families and counting.
“We’ve gotten food, nonperishables, adult clothing, blouses, suits and leather jackets,” Paul said. “Adult clothing is requested less, so now we are focusing on children’s clothing.”
If donations do not find a new home within one to two months, they will be forwarded to other charity organizations.
“If we find we have an abundance of a size and gender that’s not moving, we donate it to battered women’s shelters, the Covenant House in New Orleans or homeless shelters,” Paul said. “If I can’t help somebody with it, just know that it’s going somewhere else to help people outside of the Hope Chest.”
Alena Bedwell is one of several families to receive food and clothing donations from The Hop Chest thus far. She said donations were ready about three days after the initial request.
“Toya is the sweetest person,” Bedwell said. “I originally reached out to her to get some winter clothes for my kids, and she worked really hard to find my son some school uniform pants as well. She really does everything she can to go above and beyond to make sure people are satisfied.”
On Nov. 16, Paul will be in the community providing sandwiches, snacks and blankets to the homeless. Additional blanket donations are requested.
In the future, Paul wants to form a nonprofit called Transitions to help people get back on their feet and back to what matters in life. Transitions will include a resource/computer center for résumé building and community partnerships to provide haircuts and other personal grooming needs.
“Ultimately, within Transitions, we’ll still have the Hope Chest for people who need clothes for court visits, interviews and church,” Paul said.
Gerald Paul said he is happy to assist his wife in achieving her vision.
“I know it’s something she is passionate about because of the situation she went through,” Gerald Paul said. “I want to show support any way I can.”
