The Clothing Shop
The Clothing Shop became a program of Hope Center in 1989 after moving from the basement of a local church. For more than three decades, this program has helped tens of thousands of people access free, quality clothing through the generosity of supporting congregations, local businesses, and individual donors.
Guests are welcome to shop for everyday clothing as well as career and work‑appropriate attire. Clothing donations from community businesses help ensure a wide variety of options and sizes are available. Our caring volunteers are on hand to assist guests in finding clothing that meets their needs, all in a respectful and welcoming environment. Every item is provided at no cost.
The Clothing Shop is available to residents of Waukesha County who fall within low to low‑middle income guidelines. Our goal is to help individuals and families feel confident, comfortable, and supported, whether they are preparing for work, navigating a challenging season, or simply in need of clothing essentials.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday through Friday: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday evenings: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Everyone who visits is welcomed with dignity, care, and respect.
2025 Program Achievements: The Clothing Shop served 3,358 unduplicated individuals who visited a total of 32,852 times throughout the year. Approximately 36% of all visits were for children, highlighting the importance of this resource for families in our community. A total of 87,935 articles of clothing were distributed, along with 9,076 pieces of underwear and 14,035 pairs of socks. In addition, 806 households received 2,562 household items, and 23 layettes were provided to support families with newborns.
Community Meal Program
Our Community Meal Program began in 1991 in response to hunger in our community and remains a place of welcome, care, and connection. We serve individuals and families facing food insecurity, including people who are unhoused, living in shelters or rooming houses, families working to stretch tight household budgets, and older adults living on fixed incomes. Many of our guests are also navigating physical and or mental health challenges.
Every day, guests are invited to join us for a hearty breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and a hot lunch at 12:00 p.m. We also serve hot, nutritionally balanced dinners at the Hope Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 5:30 p.m., offering a reliable place to gather for a warm meal and a sense of community.
Through generous partnerships with St. Vincent de Paul, Green Power Garden, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), local restaurants, area congregations, and individual supporters, we are able to provide meals throughout the week.
2025 Program Achievements: The Evening Meal Program supported 594 unduplicated individuals who visited 9,676 times. Approximately 6% of visits were for children. Over the course of the year, 13,139 dinners were served, offering warm meals and community connection each evening. Over 16,000 volunteer hours from our community and area congregations helped in serving those meals. Every meal served allows our guests to save money, which in turn can help provide shelter. The social component is priceless in some cases.
Day Center
Hope Center offers a Daytime Warming and Cooling Center that provides a safe, welcoming place to rest, connect, and find comfort during the day. The center is open Monday through Friday year‑round, and on weekends during the winter season, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Originally created as a warm daytime destination for individuals experiencing homelessness, the program has grown to serve anyone in our community who may be feeling isolated or in need of a supportive place to be. Whether guests are seeking relief from extreme temperatures, a place to sit and recharge, or connection with others, all are welcome.
Our goal is to offer a space rooted in dignity, care, and community, where no one has to face the day alone.
2025 Program Achievements: The Day Center welcomed 1,044 unduplicated individuals for a total of 20,392 visits. During this time, 20,575 breakfasts and 22,382 lunches were served, providing consistent nourishment and a welcoming space for those in need. The demand for this program, and resources utilized to provide it, rivals those of the Outreach Meal program when the daily nature of the program is taken into consideration. As in the case of the Outreach Meal Program, guest food expenditures are reduced and the social element is priceless.
Green Power Garden
Click Here to download Green Power Garden BrochureThis great program provides an additional benefit for our guests at the Hope Center. The garden is cultivated from spring into the fall, and provides fresh vegetables and fruit to those receiving meals through our Day Center and Meal Program. The garden has provided over 5,000 pounds of fresh food, and we share any harvest surplus with local food pantries. In addition to providing food, the garden program also opens the door for volunteer opportunities. Church, school, scout, and civic groups have joined in the preparation, tending, and harvesting of the crops.
We, the Green Power Garden, would like to introduce ourselves and offer you a outdoor seasonal volunteering opportunity. We are a one acre plot of land behind a pole barn at S53 W24747 Glendale Road in Waukesha. We have Port-O-Potty and drinking water available on site. We work from mid-May until late October to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for the Hope Center meal recipients and clients. We average about 3,700 pounds per season and are always looking for helpers. You can come once or 100 times, we don’t choose or judge.
We normally work Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting around 5:00 p.m., stay as long as you care to. If those evenings don’t work for you, stop out for twenty minutes on one of those evenings or reach out to me and I will meet you, show you the ropes, and you can work when it is best for you. You only need to touch base if you have questions, or if you harvest food, so we can call to have the produce picked up by the Hope Center. You can also follow our Green Power Garden Facebook page to see what we are up to and if it looks like fun, come on over and jump in. We post a new story every Sunday evening saying what we did that week and what will be coming up the following week.
Donations to the garden are also always accepted. Picking buckets, seed, tools, gloves, fruit and vegetable plants, or you can write your check to the Hope Center and just put the Green Power Garden in your note section. And feel free to spread the word about what we do, and why.
Financial Assistance and Vital Documents Support
Our Financial Assistance program helps individuals and families facing financial crises. Assistance may include help with limited medical expenses such as copays or transportation to and from work. In addition, we provide support in obtaining vital documents, including assistance with associated document fees, to help individuals access essential services and maintain stability.
Over the years, this program has helped thousands of people avoid homelessness. Applicants may receive financial assistance once per year and must meet low‑income eligibility guidelines.
2025 Program Achievements: A total of $31,634 in financial assistance was distributed to 1,103 clients, helping individuals and families obtain vital documents and overcome transportation barriers creating opportunity to secure stable housing, employment, and access to medical care.
Shower and Laundry Program
Our Shower and Laundry Program offers a welcoming, respectful space where individuals can take care of basic hygiene needs. We provide two private, single‑room showers that are fully ADA accessible, along with access to a washer and dryer, helping people feel refreshed, confident, and supported.
Services are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 8:00 a.m. The last shower or laundry load must be started by 2:30 p.m. Participation is available on a first‑come, first‑served basis, with a daily sign‑up.
Volunteer Impact and Donations
2025 Achievements: Our work this year was made possible through the incredible generosity of our community. Dedicated volunteers contributed an extraordinary 18,813 hours of service, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve each day. In addition, donors provided 873 furniture items, 3,435 household items, and 59,583 clothing items, along with food donations valued at an estimated $62,322. We are deeply grateful to every volunteer and donor whose compassion and commitment help us continue this vital work. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission.