Hope Houses Are Gift of Hope for Hephzibah Children

A dollhouse built by Hope House.

Hephzibah is fortunate so have many generous and thoughtful supporters and partners who share their incredible vision, unwavering passion, unique talents and valuable resources with the children in our care. One such organization is Hope Houses Workshop, located in Berwyn, IL. The company, led by Steve and Kim Lefko, has shared their corporate Buy One, Give One Promise with the children in our group home and Head Start Programs.

Hope Houses Workshop builds dollhouses and treehouses that spark imagination and grow young minds for parents wanting the best for their child while making a difference in another. Every purchase also sends a Hope House to a child who needs hope.

“Hope Houses are imaginary worlds where children play, dream and act out the story for their own lives,” Steve says. ”Together, the Buy-One Give-One promise opens doors of imagination and hope for even more children because with every purchase we send a second Hope House dollhouse, treehouse or wooden toy to a child served by Hephzibah or our other partners agencies caring for children.

Hope Houses Workshop also partners with other local programs to help build skills and create opportunities. Recently they joined forces with a youth outreach program teaching the teens how to make specialty wooden toys like racecars, Jacob’s Ladders and tops. All the toys were then donated to the children in Hephzibah’s Head Start program.

“Dollhouses and treehouses are a pretend play space where children act out their dreams and allow their imagination to do all of the work,” Steve says. “The child hears their own voice in this dreaming and begins believing anything is possible. It is a fun way to teach kids the importance of unplugging, using their imagination and doing something wonderful for a child needing a little hope.

“Play is an important component for healthy child development and the toys, dollhouses and treehouses give our kids the opportunity to dream and envision a bright and hopeful future,” says Merry Beth Sheets, executive director. “We are profoundly grateful to the Hope Houses Workshop and the Lefko family for including Hephzibah in their mission and sharing their talents and gifts with our children.”