By Kimberly Dean
Contributing Writer

A group of local residents have teamed with the Loft Coffee House in Spring Branch on an idea that can help restore dignity to those in need.

An annual Christmas party is held the first week of December for the children whose families are under the care of the Hope Center. Spring Branch resident Courtney Garrison has a heart for this ministry and wanted to create a way for the families to continue the celebration on Christmas morning.

From this, the idea of hosting a Christmas Store, where parents of limited means could buy presents for their children, was born.

Children of the 300 families involved with the services of the Hope Center will gather on Dec. 8 for a “birthday party” and to celebrate Christmas. Each child will be able to open a present on this day.

Hope Center director Pamela Bar-quest would like each child also to have presents to open on Christmas morning, but this project would be financially impossible for the Hope Center.

Working with the Loft Coffee House, Garrison began collecting donations for a Christmas Store.

Hope Center parents and grandparents will be able to personally select presents that will be cherished by their beloved children and purchase the gifts for $1 at the Christmas Store.

“By purchasing these gifts, parents and grandparents who are in a difficult time of life, will be gifted with dignity,” Barquest said.

“Please join us in creating a Christmas Store for the families of the Hope Center,” said Michele Woodman, an employee of the Loft.

The Loft Coffee House will be accepting gifts and donations for children ages 4 months to 16 years until Dec. 16. The Christmas Store will be open Dec. 4, 11, and 18. All donations go toward the Christmas Store. The money that is collected from the store will be used by the Hope Center in ways that serve the families under their care.