A friend of mine recently moved, and rather than have a garage sale or pay to have everything shipped, he donated well over fifty percent of his household furnishings to the Mission.  I’m not sure he realized the full extent of his gift.  Besides helping to finance our services to the poor and homeless, his donation is also helping to sustain positive, healing work environments for men and women in transition.

Back in 2002 when we were first considering opening a thrift store, lots of questions arose.  Eight years later, I’m convinced that the ministry taking place in our retail stores is as vital as anything we do.  I hope this month’s cover story gives you a glimpse of that.  From the customers to the employees to the volunteers to the people who bring their donations, the Union Gospel Mission Thrift Stores are impacting lives.

We still give away our clothes to anyone who comes to us in need. Last year, our shelters distributed over 3,700 items of free clothing, and the thrift stores gave away over $40,300 in merchandise.  At the same time, we have created work environments where people can experience grace, forgiveness and compassion on a daily basis.  I like the word oasis as a descriptor for our thrift stores:  “a place or period that gives relief from a troubling or chaotic situation.”  Men and women who are transitioning from addiction or prison or domestic violence have the opportunity to learn job skills, gain work experience, and be part of a supportive community.

Two mornings a week I start my day at the thrift stores for Bible study and prayer, and I recently had the opportunity to meet DezaRae, who works in production at the Valley store.  Before getting mixed up in the drug culture and going to prison, she had trained to be a nurse. Now, she’s sorting donated clothing.  A step down by the world’s standards, but that’s not the way DezaRae sees it.  “I’m one of the most very fortunate people I know,” she said. Her co-workers and supervisors genuinely care about her personal growth and healing. She has discovered her innate value and who she is in Christ, and she feels good about coming to work. “In helping myself, I’m helping other people just like me.”

When you give your gently used clothing and household items to the Union Gospel Mission, you are helping to create an oasis-like work environment for men and women like DezaRae.  Thank you.