(Hannah Gunnell/South Indy Connect photo) The Hope Gallery Manager Kimmy Rogers showcases the items made and sold by volunteers. The sweets and treats boutique is part of the Alex and Ali Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to empower those with developmental disabilities by providing job skill training opportunities. Those who make and sell these items are volunteers completing the job skills training.
By HANNAH GUNNELL
The word “hope” has a lot of meaning at one Bargersville gift shop.
It’s the name of the child of Jennifer Parker, who founded the Alex and Ali Foundation with a mission to empower and enhance the lives of adults with Autism and other developmental disabilities through opportunities for job skill training, vocational activities, and meaningful community involvement.
And it’s the word that drew Kimmy Rogers to working with that nonprofit’s gift shop, The Hope Gallery, at 74 N. Main Street. The shop boasts “Wonderfully Made, Perfectly Unique” sweets and treats.
Items in the shop are made and sold by residents who have developmental disabilities as part of a job skills program that its team members complete.
“We work with them do to job coaching, so we teach them counting money, customer service, and try to help them with their people skills,” Rogers said. “A lot of our team members have went on to have regular jobs. We have one who went on to Chick Fil A, we’ve got one that works for one of the wing places, and it’s kind of cool seeing them develop into using these skills in their jobs.”
Rogers took over as The Hope Gallery’s manager about a month ago, after the previous manager moved to manage a second, newer location in Newburgh. Between both the Bargersville and Newburgh locations, there’s at least 125 volunteer team members.
The Bargersville store opened its location in 2018. It’s named for Hope Parker, who passed away in 2020.
“She loved big,” Rogers said. “Even though she didn’t talk, she just made you feel loved. I was lucky enough to meet her a few times and she was indescribable. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt to God. That’s who they named the place after.”
The foundation is named for Parker’s son Alex and his friend Ali, who both have Autism. Parker’s family lived in Bargersville for a while before moving down to be with family in Newburgh, Rogers said.
Items in the shop include handmade arts and crafts, apparel, and brand-name candy and ice creams, including Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, who makes a point of employing people with disabilities.
Rogers and the volunteers have made items such as small paintings, jewelry, greeting cards, and mosaics. Behind the shop is a garden that volunteers maintain in the warmer months. Produce raised in the garden gets sold at the Bargersville and Franklin farmers markets.
Money raised goes back to support the Alex and Ali Foundation and The Hope Gallery. The foundation will host its annual gala, its biggest fundraising event, March 7, 2025 at The Garment Factory. Tickets for the gala cost $125 and will be available for sale in January. Rogers and the foundation are seeking corporate sponsors for the event.
Anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering at The Hope Gallery can do so by reaching out to Rogers at 317-807-6317 or thehopegallery@gmail.com.