Find quilts, antique crochet, lace, fabric, upholstery, quilting fabric, notions and more at this one-of-a-kind textile event. All of this in our 2001 Railroad Avenue Community Room, across from The Caring Place thrift store. April 13-15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Pride. That’s what kept Brad from seeking help for his family when they were struggling. And it was after a night of sleeping in the car that he knew there had to be something else out there to get them through this rough patch. “It was pride. I’ve never been in a situation where I needed help like this. Never.”
According to Marie Kondo, an organizational guru, “Putting your house in order is the magic that creates a vibrant and happy life.”
There are lots of reasons why people volunteer. My favorite thing is when our volunteers say, “Volunteering fills my heart.” This means different things to different people. Here are some of the heart-filling reasons we hear around here...
At The Caring Place, sharing our values is part of our everyday job. The new year feels like a great time to share those values with you, as well as offer inspiration as you seek to find joy and meaning in 2023. Perhaps, learning how The Caring Place brought new meaning to its mission will help you learn new ways to remember the power of your own values.
While Halloween is normally reserved for scary-good fun, that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved to benefit a scary-good cause!
As she volunteered as a pricer in the pricing warehouse, she realized The Caring Place could help her make her house a home again. Trena was on a tight budget as her previous relationship had also destroyed her credit, but through the years has replaced items to her taste. Dishes, housewares, decor, and clothing were all purchased at The Caring Place at affordable prices.
In an effort to be more energy efficient throughout our buildings, The Caring Place hoped for automatic doors that provided a better barrier between our indoor and outdoor space. Our old, floppy and cumbersome doors were not cutting it. Therese and Carlos made that dream a reality.
Like many of us, I have a work history in retail that no longer fits on my professional resume. Although those jobs no longer fit on my list of experiences, I will never overlook the valuable skills I learned in those jobs.
Now a longtime active volunteer, Isaac was initially made familiar with The Caring Place over 17 years ago through his neighbor, Doris Kromer, who was one of The Caring Place’s founders.
“Spare Change for Change.” That’s what the little boxes that rest on our cash register wrap at the front of the store read. That means if you pay in cash and receive change back, you are welcome to place it in the red box.
Carol’s favorite thing about being a part of The Caring Place is simple: “Of course, I love the people. I like working with books. That pretty much sums it up.”
Community volunteering means a lot to Kim. It is one of the ways she addresses Social Justice in her community. If you glance at Kim’s arm you’ll see a stack of books tattooed there. The books are titled Science, Art, Literature, History, and Poetry. These are areas of knowledge that Kim is most interested in which fuel her mind and soul, but the book on the bottom of the stack acting as the foundation is titled, Social Justice. She shared that the idea of community and being connected to the community through volunteering was powerful for her.
“I want to tell anyone having a rough time, that there is help out there. All you have to do is ask. Keep your head up. I was a victim, but I never felt that should determine who I am. I am more than that. I am a strong mom and have come a long way.”
On her sales, Teri noted, “Back in 2020, I had given everything I could to people I knew already, so I had to get creative. I knew I could sell them for cheap and donate the money. And, especially at the time, I knew there was a need for food, clothing—for basic stuff—because so many were out of work.” To respond to this great need in our community and her own need to pare down her overflowing yard, Teri had her first plant sale in the Spring of 2020, not knowing if it would do well. In true pandemic fashion, Teri put the plants out with a can and a sign that read “Plant Sale. Benefits The Caring Place.” It was an honor system; put your money in the can and take your plant. The Setup proved effective, as she made a couple of hundred dollars. People, receptive to the cause, often added more to the can. Happy with the first turnout, Teri said, “Well, okay, that’s good. It’s something I enjoy doing, and people enjoy buying.”
