Hope Chests?

Question

Me and a few friends have decided that were are going to make hope chests. What sort of things should we put in them. We have a few basic ideas, but I'd love some more! Thanks!

Answer 1

A hope chest is something where you are suppose to put things you can use for your house when you move out. First off, a couple suggestions:

A suggestion: Ask friends & family to contribute to them when it comes time for birthday or Christmas if you celebrate that. Or any other time that would be appropriate for you to get a gift like valentine's day or you move into a new house or the like.

Another suggestion: Get your parents (or go with your friends) to rummage sales, especially ones held by churches if you can find them, they are the best and happen in spring where I live.

Now here's what you can put in it (get them cheapest at the rummage sales...I got a brand new silverware set for $4 & set of matching dishes for $20 at rummage sales).:

Bath towels
Hand towels
dish cloths
potholders

set of pots & pans (don't buy these used)
flatware set (you probably don't want real silverware cuz you have to polish it all the time and it's harder to take care of and its also more expensive to buy)
pizza pan
pizza cutter
ice cream scoop
set of plastic bowls
wooden & plastic mixing spoons
storage containers for leftover food
Coffee mugs
Coffee pot
Microwave
glass glasses
plastic cups
cookie trays (nonstick ones are best)
dishes set (watch for something with 2 sizes bowls for eating, dessert plates, dinner plates, gravy bowl, sugar & creamer, serving platter, and serving bowls)
funnel
plastic juice container (what you put juice/koolaid in when its made, I don't know what the proper name for this is)
steak knives
Just get a knife block....it has all the sharp knives you'll ever need included.
Cutting board
hot pads (prevent hot pans from burning your table)
electric grill
electric frying pan
slow cooker/crock pot
ceramic casserole dish to make casseroles in oven
bread pans
pie pans
baking pans
cheese grater (I like the plastic ones by tupperware, the ones I've seen have all been green)
apple/veggie/fruit peeler

if you like to camp:
tent
camping stove
lantern


That's all I can think of right now but I'm sure there's lots more.
computer, printer (not necessary, but nice to have)
set of silverwear

Answer 2

Hope chests or Glory boxes usually contain things which might be difficult to find and yet have personal meaning or items which are "exactly what you want".

Special items of clothing, bed linens and quilts (especially family heirlooms), table linens and napkins, towels and face clothes, and sometimes dishware and special kitchenware.

Historically, the items found in a Hope chest were things not easily found for use by a new bride. Modern Hope chests are usually used for items which have very special memories associated with them.

Your grandmother's antique hand juice squeezer (even one that might never be use in your kitchen) should have more value than the latest technology gadget that anyone can purchase. A quilt that was hand made by an aunt. A house plant pot or old picture of family members.

These items are impossible to replace and often become the things you might give one of your daughters when she starts her Hope chest. It also strengthens family ties if you ask older female families if you might have an item that they have to place in your Hope chest.