Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation
Here for Good
Since November 2001, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation has been a source of hope for local breast cancer patients and their families.
Getting cancer is scary. And expensive. Hope Chest fills an urgent, unmet need: Alleviating some of the financial burdens associated with breast cancer treatment. While patients focus on the fight of their lives, we focus on helping patients stay in their homes, keep the heat and lights on, and put nutritious food in the fridge. We help make sure that patients can get access to transportation and child care so they can attend treatments. We’re here for good.
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer founder Barbara Hensley lost her two sisters to breast cancer. She witnessed firsthand the financial challenges that breast cancer patients and their families face.
After meeting more patients and hearing their stories, Barbara knew something had to be done to ease the burdens that insurance doesn’t cover. So, she turned heartbreak into action. In 2001, Barbara resigned her corporate executive position and founded Hope Chest for Breast Cancer. The first Hope Chest for Breast Cancer resale shop opened in Orono, Minnesota in November, 2002.
Today, Hope Chest has grown from Barbara Hensley’s dream into an impactful, multifaceted organization with a dedicated Board of Directors and passionate, skilled staff. We are as committed as ever to the cause, because we believe that no family should face financial ruin while they fight cancer.
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer funds Emergency Assistance Grants to support local breast cancer patients and their families. Our business model combines the power of a foundation and revenue-generating resale shops. The foundation combines donations, grants, event revenues, and store proceeds to provide a solid revenue stream for its mission.
Hope Chest resale shops are open seven days per week and sell merchandise at a fraction of the cost because all of the items — from evening wear to end tables — are donated from individuals or corporations. Currently, we have three resale shops located in the Twin Cities; Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Orono. The mantra of our resale shops is: “Excellent quality, excellent buys…all for an excellent cause.”
