Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Gruetzner.
Hi Chelsea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The Hope Center along with The Loft Coffee House were born in 2004 from a divine vision to create a safe,
welcoming space where people could find community and experience God’s transformative love. Our head pastor was swept away while baptizing people in the Jordan River and as he was pulled to safety, he heard God’s call: “Be the kind of people who pull others out of the white waters of life. Create a place called Riverside where community is built, and strength is provided to those facing financial hardships.”
This moment laid the foundation for a unique church model and ministry that would change countless lives. As Scott prayed for clarity he saw a sign that read, “Coffee Creates Community,” and in that moment knew that somehow the church would begin with a coffee shop. Incredibly, on the same day, Jenny Rudd received a similar revelation, despite having absolutely no experience with coffee shops. Both Scott and Jenny shared their visions with Courtney Garrison, marking a miraculous alignment.
From there, The Loft Coffee House was launched. While it was taking shape, God inspired the creation of The Hope Center. Linda Marceau, called to oversee Prayer Ministry, felt prompted to keep $200 in her pocket daily; Linda heard the Lord tell her that she would meet a single mom that could not afford Christmas for her son and the $200 would be for her.
During renovations on The Loft, Linda encountered Pamela Barquest, a single mom with three college degrees who was struggling financially and emotionally. Hired to clean windows, Pamela’s connection with Linda sparked the idea for The Hope Center: a place where individuals in financial hardship could find hope, dignity, and help to get their basic needs met.
In 2024, The Hope Center completed a major expansion, growing from a 400-square-foot facility to a 3,000-square-foot food pantry, complete with office and meeting spaces, as well as a separate thrift store and boutique. This growth allowed us to expand our team, adding 6 part-time employees and dozens more volunteers. Today we operate with only 1 full-time employee, 8 part-time employees and over 140 dedicated
volunteers. Last year, we served over 8,000 individuals, distributed more than $40,000 in direct financial aid, and
facilitated spiritual development through prayer, Bible studies, church attendance, and baptisms.
The Hope Center is a faith-driven, community-centered nonprofit dedicated to meeting the immediate and long-term needs of individuals and families in crisis. Our services include:
●Food Pantry: Monthly grocery assistance, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies for qualifying clients.
●Financial Assistance: Help with utility bills, housing costs, and other essentials, guided by residency and
one-time annual limits. We recently hired a Financial Assistance Coordinator who provides personalized
coaching on budgeting, debt reduction, and financial independence.
●Thrift Store: Provides low-cost goods, volunteer opportunities, and revenue to sustain operations. We are
developing a voucher program that allows clients to earn thrift store credits by volunteering or participating in
educational programs—promoting responsibility and financial literacy.
●Outreach and Referral Services: Personalized one-on-one conversations to connect clients to housing,
employment, and other resources.
Our programming aims to alleviate financial burdens while fostering self-sufficiency and personal growth. Every
interaction is rooted in love, respect, and a desire to reflect the compassion of Christ.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but every challenge has strengthened our mission and deepened our faith. Once people discovered The Hope Center and the resources we offered, growth came quickly and continuously. With that growth came new realities—more people to serve meant more food, more space, and more funding.
Keeping the lights on and the shelves stocked is something we think about constantly. While our dedicated volunteers make so much possible, certain aspects of our operations require paid staff to maintain consistency and sustainability. Space was another major challenge. For a long time, our pantry could only hold a couple days’ worth of food, preventing us from buying in bulk or preparing for larger needs. Expanding our facilities required both time and significant financial investment.
As our client count more than doubled, we also felt called to “go deeper” with our neighbors—to make a lasting impact beyond providing food. That vision required additional staff to oversee financial assistance and case management, which came with additional costs. Eventually, our growth outpaced our capacity, and we had to make the difficult decision to limit services to specific regions. This involved analyzing data, evaluating needs, and having honest, sometimes hard, conversations with our team and our community.
Challenges continue to evolve—most recently, the government shutdown required us to increase our pantry budget to help bridge the gap for affected neighbors. Yet through every season, The Hope Center has operated with unity and peace. We’ve learned to trust God’s perfect timing and bring every decision to Him in prayer. That unwavering foundation of faith has sustained us through every obstacle and is truly the reason behind our growth and success today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Hope Center is defined by an unwavering commitment to community, compassion, and spiritual growth, guided by our mission to love God and love people. Since our founding in 2005, we’ve sought to reflect the belief that caring for those in need is not simply an act of charity—it’s a calling.
We serve as a place where individuals and families facing hardship can find practical help, emotional encouragement, and spiritual support. What began as a small outreach has grown into a thriving ministry supported by one full-time executive director, eight part-time staff, and more than 140 dedicated volunteers. Together, we work to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors feels seen, valued, and cared for.
The Hope Center specializes in holistic care—meeting both physical and spiritual needs. Through our food pantry, financial assistance programs, and prayer ministry, we meet immediate needs while also inspiring long-term change. We partner actively with local churches, schools, businesses, and other ministries to create a strong network of shared compassion and resources. This collaborative spirit is what allows us to multiply our impact and reach further into the community.
What truly sets us apart is the depth of connection we build with those we serve. We don’t see our neighbors as “clients,” but as family. We take time to listen to their stories, affirm their worth, and walk alongside them in their journeys toward hope and stability. Our goal isn’t just to provide a service—it’s to nurture transformation.
We’re most proud of the environment of love and belonging we’ve created. The Hope Center has become a place where people experience both practical relief and spiritual renewal—a place where dignity is restored, faith is strengthened, and hope is reborn. Our greatest success isn’t measured in numbers, but in the lives changed and the community that continues to grow stronger through shared compassion and God’s grace.
What are your plans for the future?
At The Hope Center, we are continually seeking ways to go deeper—improving our services, expanding our reach, and making a greater impact in the lives of those we serve. Our vision for the future is rooted in prayer, intentional growth, and a desire to steward our resources wisely so that we can serve our neighbors even more effectively.
Our most immediate need is a practical one: adding an additional restroom facility on our property. Currently, we have one restroom in our office building that also includes a handicap-accessible shower and a washer and dryer. We value having these amenities available for neighbors in need; however, with only one restroom, accessibility becomes a challenge. When a neighbor is using the facilities, staff and volunteers must wait, which can be difficult given the daily activity of nine staff members, roughly 140 volunteers, and a steady flow of thrift store customers. Adding another restroom—closer to the thrift store and boutique—would make access easier for team members and patrons while allowing our existing restroom to remain available for those we serve.
Beyond facility needs, we’re also exploring ways to strengthen and expand our programs. One area we’re especially excited about is our thrift store ministry. We’re looking for ways not only to use it to give more back to the community but also to grow it into a sustainable arm of the mission—one that helps fund and support our broader outreach efforts.
We’re also having meaningful conversations about expanding our financial assistance division. Our goal is to move beyond immediate aid and into empowerment—creating programs that teach financial literacy, promote long-term stability, and allow us to assist neighbors with larger, more impactful forms of support.
Another key area of focus is fundraising. Currently, our annual gala is our primary event for generating funds, but we’re prayerfully considering new opportunities—whether that means growing the gala, adding smaller events throughout the year, or exploring creative ways to engage new supporters.
Through every discussion and decision, we seek God’s guidance. We listen closely to the needs of our community and trust that the Lord will continue to open doors for growth and transformation. Whatever the future holds, we look forward to walking in faith, serving with love, and watching His plan unfold through The Hope Center.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hopecenterministries.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_hope_center_6260
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehopectr
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/hopecenterthriftstore
