The grand opening of a thrift shop doesn't seem like much.

But that store funds a center that helps countless people in the metro overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty.

“Sitting in jail a couple of times kind of got me to thinking that I needed to do something different.”

Drugs took a toll on Brenda Sharp until she made the decision to change her life.

Today, she's part of the Stephen Center's Hero program -- a substance abuse treatment center.

She's also a cashier at the center's new thrift store.

“It's a very big opportunity,” she said. “The Stephen Center helps me get back on my feet, helps me find work, and helps me resolve some of the inner issues, so I don't go back to that sort of life.”

The store of hope funds the programs that help people like Brenda get a fresh start.

All of the proceeds further the Stephen Center's mission.

“It's kind of life or death with me right now. I didn't think I'd make it past 30 days.”

Emily Harris has a similar past.

“There's a difference between growing older and growing up,” she said.

Emily sees hope for her future where before her future was day to day.

She said the doors of opportunity are starting to open.

“I guess I've been kind of out of the loop for awhile,” she said. “So I guess you're in there for awhile and not used to dealing with the outside world yet and when you first do it, it's kind of scary. So they do kind of give you baby steps and it's kind of on you to decide what you want to do with your life.”

Emily now has dreams. She hopes to open her own retail business someday.

‘If I didn't go to the Stephen Center and ask for help then I probably would have been underneath a bridge somewhere or worst.”

Rusytna Tejeda was homeless. She lost her job and had nowhere to go.

She showed up at the Stephen Center.

“Sometimes it's hard to walk through those doors because you've got to set your pride aside and start over but it's working out good for me,” she said.

She's now the assistant manager at the thrift shop and a resident of the center's transitional living program.

“I'm so grateful for the Stephen Center that I've pretty much pledged the rest of my life to helping others the way they helped me,” she said.

The shelves and racks of clothes in the thrift store represent future success stories waiting to happen.

Donations are needed for the thrift store.

Items can be dropped off at the 24th and 'Q' location.