nonprofit spotlight
Hope Connection International founder and president Debra Barkett, third from left, sits with employees and volunteers at the nonprofit’s thrift store, Deja Vu, which helps support survivors of abuse and addiction. From left are Benjamin Weston, Kirk Williams, Barkett, Deja Butler, Will Walters, Taylor Farnham and Aaron Garner.
Hope Connection International WRITTEN BY DENA DAW | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
WHEN DISCUSSING the beginnings of Hope Connection International, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping people impacted by abuse and addiction, founder Debra Barkett isn’t afraid to get personal. “My motivation for starting it was because I went through it, and people need to know that it can happen to anybody,” said Barkett. As a former educator with years of experience working in church and youth ministries across the country, Barkett recognized the need for a multi-faceted, community-led approach to recovery services and healing. Barkett’s personal experience with domestic abuse fuels the fire and continues to inspire clients within the program. Hope Connection’s mission is clear — assist in the recovery of survivors of 34
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abuse and addiction by offering free support, education, housing and sponsorships with tailored solutions. Free enrichment classes and support groups are offered at the community care center for domestic violence and abuse recovery, depression and anxiety recovery, grief support, addiction recovery, support for loved ones of addicts, and more. Hope Connection also owns Deja Vu, a furniture and home decor thrift store located in South Hills Mall. With the help of donations and volunteers, all of Deja Vu’s profits provide critical funding for Hope Connection’s housing programs and operating costs. For those interested, the thrift store is one of the biggest ways people can volunteer,
but certainly not the only way. Volunteer opportunities include cleaning the community care center, assisting support groups, buying supplies, taking survivors to appointments, sorting donations and running errands. Hope Connection is open to groups of all sizes and volunteers of all ages. “At Hope Connection, I try to find out what someone’s passion is and put them where they’re doing something they love,” said Barkett. While volunteers are always needed, an organization like Hope Connection can’t sustain itself without necessary funding. COVID-19 forced Barkett to cancel important fundraising events that typically bring in about half of the nonprofit’s income.
