By james art
Susan Skinner Plaindale of Burt County
It’s been four years! On October 23, 2020, a new project of the Tekamah-Herman-Decatur Church Community Council (THDCCC), Helping Hands Thrift Store, officially opened. Due to the COVID pandemic, transmission of infection was a major concern at the time. Despite those concerns, organizers decided to open in the old medical clinic, just west of Arbor Care Center. It was successful from the start.
Generous donations of clothing, books, DVDs, furniture and household goods continue to be received from area residents. Profits from the shop are used to support the food bank. Both programs are housed in the same council-owned building located at 209 South 9th Street.
The thrift store is open from 10am to 4pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Due to the increased workload, a part-time employee, Tanya Buck, was hired 18 months ago, but volunteers still do most of the work in the thrift store. Dozens of people have gotten involved over the past four years, including church and school groups.
Donations for resale not only help people economically, but also support sustainability efforts when viewed through the lens of the environment. Instead of throwing items that still have a functional use into trash containers, Helping Hands is a marketplace where people can buy and reuse items.
Do you have children’s toys that are slated for scrapping? Consider doing this before Christmas, not after, so they can become part of the child’s Christmas joy. If you are the right size and have extra hangers, they would be a welcome donation, especially trouser hangers. Plastic and paper bags are also required.
During store hours Thursday through Saturday, volunteers should stop by to sign up for available hours. People are needed not only during the store’s opening hours from Thursday to Saturday, but also on Wednesday afternoons, designated as “working afternoons”. This is when a lot of sorting and displaying happens. Connie Jahnke explained that even three hours a month would be great. Jahnke reports that he finds deep satisfaction in his volunteer work and believes that others would feel the same way.
As Helping Hands Thrift celebrates its fourth birthday, donations of items and time will ensure the continued success of this valuable community-supported project.