On Wednesday, Restored Hope Boutique had its grand opening. The boutique, located at 124 N Queen St., is a part of Hope Restorations. The grand opening started with a tour of the House of Hope for Women then the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the boutique afterward. 

“This is a great day in the city of Kinston,“ said Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Hardy. “We are proud to have Restored Hope open their doors for the first time and we’re here to support you in any way we can,” said Hardy. 

Hope Restorations is a non-profit organization that supports individuals recovering from addiction or incarceration. They help individuals receive a steady income, employment preparation, and other job training skills for a successful transformation. Hope Restorations has a program for men and a program for women. The newly opened boutique will allow those in the women's program to gain work experience that will help them after they complete the program. The proceeds from the boutique go toward supporting the House of Hope for Women.

The House of Hope for Women is a key part of Hope Restorations operations. It can house up to twenty adult females. At the house, the women participate in group meetings, activities, and skills that help their road to recovery. All the women at the house have the ability to work at Restored Hope. 

At the ceremony, Chris Jenkins, Hope Restorations owner, spoke about the impact the organization hopes to have in Kinston. “This entire community will consider themselves owners of this organization instead of just observers,” said Jenkins. “I want it to be something Kinston believes that itself is to be a place where people can come to get a new start, to get a second chance, and to be completely embraced with opportunities, support, and resources to flourish.”