Florida. Warwick Hope Chest opens Oct. 2 in the Village of Florida

It has been a long year and a half but the non-profit Warwick Hope Chest, formerly located in Pine Island, has found a new location at 90 North Main St. in the Village of Florida next to Zicar Ceramics.

The Hope Chest will open with its usual line of like new and gently used in-season apparel for children, women, men and formal wear, including shoes and accessories, on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m.

Pre-pandemic, the Hope Chest was located on Schoolhouse Road at the former Pine Island Elementary School, which has since been re-assigned as a public school.

“We are very excited about our new location,” Director Laura Shanahan said. “Our previous clients have been anxiously waiting for us to reopen and we are looking forward to serving the community again by providing new and gently used clothing in our Thrift Boutique and The Clothing Closet, our free clothing bank. Shopping here is a great way for the community to take advantage of great bargains while helping serve the community.”

The Thrift Boutique and the Clothing Closet grand opening is Saturday, Oct. 2; regular hours are: Tuesdays, 2 to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Customers will be required to wear masks.

The Warwick Hope Chest is now asking the community for donations of like-new and gently used in-season apparel for children, women and men. Donations will be accepted in the back of the building during the times they are open. Due to space limitations, they will not be able to accept home goods.

The Warwick Hope Chest proceeds go to support the Clothing Closet which has distributed more than $200,000 worth of free clothing to local families.

For more information, visit The Warwick Hope Chest’s Facebook page or contact Laura Shanahan at llshanahan@warwick.net.