Hope Chest Keepsakes

The Hope Chest Keepsake Jewelry Company was founded by a mother of a young child with autism.

The

Our Story (by Vicki Sotack, Founder of The Hope Chest) 

It all started quite by accident after a “connecting moment” with my, then,4  year old son, Nathan, who has autism. After meeting with his ABA therapist one afternoon, I was standing in my kitchen, washing dishes and contemplating the answer she had given me to this basic question: “Why is it that my son is able to complete certain tasks here at the center, yet when presented with those same tasks at home, he is unsuccessful?” Her answer was that he “paired”, or associated, those tasks specifically with the structured environment in which he learned them or with the person who was teaching him. Basically, he was having difficulty generalizing and demonstrating his mastery of those skills across various settings.

As I pondered her words, my eyes welled up with tears realizing how very impacted my son was by his autism. I was having what I called a “grief moment”. Unlike other times when my little boy would just run past me, that time, he suddenly turned around and looked me directly in the eye, as if to ask, “Mommy, why are you crying?” In that very moment another pressing question occurred to me: What will he “pair” with Mom? The grief I felt for him being affected by autism, or the hope that filled my heart about his life and his potential? It only took me a half-second to conclude that, with all my heart, I wanted him to pair “hope” with “Mom”.

That night, as I tinkered at my jeweler’s bench, I drew inspiration from thinking about my non-verbal son’s ability to read, his love of letters, and how much I feel as if I am his voice and think of him as my very heart. There, in the wee hours of the night, I designed a pendant with the written word “HOPE” and a tiny puzzle piece (the universal symbol for autism) dangle for me to wear from that day forward, hoping that, by seeing my face and the word “HOPE” hanging from my neck, he may somehow pair “hope” with “Mom”, and know how much I believe in him.  I affectionately coined that pendant, “Eternal Hope” and wear it to this very day.

Today, the mission of The Hope Chest has evolved from the accidental beginnings in my kitchen. We are focused on building a Christ-centered company that will provide a professional future for adults with autism, (while keeping a seat warm for our own afflicted/gifted child when he comes of age!). With God’s help, The Hope Chest will continue to grow and to serve the autism community through our business endeavors and collaborations with other organizations worldwide who share our vision.

So exactly does The Hope Chest do?

At The Hope Chest, we design jewelry with intention. Our keepsakes are worn to honor a loved one, to support a cause, or to commemorate a special occasion. It’s not so much about the “bling”, as it is about the sentiment behind it. It’s about having a heart for people and for the aspects of their lives that matter most to them – their love for God, their undying support for a child, their dedication to one another, or their hope for healing. It’s about the concept of “paying it forward” and infusing a precious purpose into every aspect of our business. These are the things that drive us, and our customers’ stories inspire us. That is why we are who we are – The HOPE Chest Keepsake Jewelry, a company whose jewelry has intention; GOOD intention.