Longtime Hope Chest volunteer honored

SAYING GOODBYE—After 20 years as a volunteer, Margaret Paley, center, says goodbye to her friends and colleages at the Hope Chest II, a thrift store that supports Villa Esperanza Services, the nonprofit agency for developmentally disabled adults. Left, Robert Efford from Villa Esperanza and right, Anne Grant, Hope Chest volunteer manager. Two thrift shop volunteers bid farewell to jobs that began and ended as a pure labor of love.

Margaret Paley has been a dedicated volunteer at the Thousand Oaks thrift shop, Hope Chest II, for more than 20 years. Hope Chest II is run by a group of volunteers called “Caring Hearts.”

The store generates about $100,000 annually to support the West region of Villa Esperanza Services, a nonprofit agency that assists developmentally disabled adults.

“Margaret has given faithful service to our clients who have passed through our doors over 20 years,” said Robert Efford, director of Villa Esperanza Services West region. He added that she’s been as generous to the organization as she’s been with the clients she helped train to work in the community.

Although Jeanette Owen has only volunteered at Hope Chest II for two years, her hard work and can-do spirit were appreciated by members.

“Jeanette has been one of our sweetest ladies,” said Faye Long, another Hope Chest II volunteer. “She never says no.”

The two women were honored by friends and colleagues Monday at a breakfast celebration at Plug Nickel Restaurant in Westlake Village.

The Hope Chest II has moved its operations many times over the years. One volunteer said that the store has been located in a bar that was shut down, a gun shop and in its present location—a former barbershop.

Paley, who will be moving to Tehachapi, Calif., shared humorous stories with the group, telling of the different “characters” who visited the shop.

“Some of the customers were a little kookier than others,” Paley said. She remembered one customer was dubbed “Miss America” by workers since she “wore a flag on every part of her body.”

Thrift store volunteers always aim to please their customers. When “Miss America” visited the store, Paley said that volunteers would pull out every Americana item.

“I know you guys will carry on,” Paley said. “I will miss you.”

The store is not just a money

maker, Efford said, but it “provides community-based employment opportunities to people with limited skills.”

Efford added that people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities are trained at the store and taught job skills in a retail environment, “not a sheltered workshop.” Clients learn such skills as customer service and how to tag and display clothes and other items for sale.

The group-supported employment offers daily coaching and instruction to people with developmental delays. Typically, clients receive six months to a year of training, said Efford. After learning practical skills, the clients are ready for communitybased jobs where there is employee support.

Efford said that graduates of Hope Chest II now work at Home Depot, several grocery store chains, Mann Theatres, PETsMART, and other local retail businesses.

According to Efford, once a client lands a job in the community, Villa Esperanza coaches reduce supervision and let the client work on his or her own.

Vocational programs are now offered to clients in various fields. Efford maintains contacts with the state Department of Parks and Recreation. Some clients perform custodial services and others provide landscaping services. Las Virgenes Municipal Water District has contracted with Villa Esperanza for several years. Other employees work in furniture refinishing, vending services and moving services.

Efford said that the group recently received a $76,000 grant to buy computers. He hopes to incorporate computer and Internet training into the vocational instruction, such as training clients to manage online auctions and ship items to the winning bidders.

Some donations to Hope Chest II, Efford said, are specialty items that may command higher prices through online auctions. For instance, the thrift store received a donated Vietnamese musical instrument similar to a harp. It might sell for $10 at the store, but online, a savvy buyer might pay hundreds of dollars.