Carson Newman College Makes Hope Happen in Strawberry Plains

Thanks to the Carson Newman College Dance Team our thrift shop has never looked better! The young women did a terrific job, wore smiles and were enthusiastic all morning. This is the second year they've come here through Operation Inasmuch and we're very glad they came.

This means it will be easier for both shoppers and clients to find the items they need. More people can be served more effeciently. We also had three other volunteers here. Always upbeat they found the dance team's enthusiasm to be contagious - and this soon spread to our customers.

It was just a great day to be here and we're very glad they came!

Want to join us sometime? Give us a call or email gayle@hopeforhealing.org. We'd love to welcome you or your group as we serve others.

Outreach: Khakis for Carter High Band

One way we made hope happen today:

Each year khaki pants are required for the kids in the band at the local high school. It can be a strain for a parent to provide these on top of flip folders, special shoes and all the other things band kids need. Yet band here is an important part of most kids lives. Several of our clients are students in the band. The camaderie makes them happy when their lives are the worst.

So today, a volunteer, youth coordinator and myself piled our inventory of khakis and took them to band camp. It was fun. We discounted them to $2.50 each. The parents appreciated our efforts and the kids seemed to have a good time picking and choosing.

One parent in particular was glad. Her family is in a really tough spot right now and she was worried about affording things for school. Being there gave us an opportunity to tell her about our other programs such and vouchers and Angel Food and invite her to visit the thrift shop. She seemed reassured to know help is available and said she'd come by.

We're just glad to be here.

Thanks for making it happen!

Hope for Healing.Org Back Up and Running After Storm

We're back up and running! We appreciate everyone's support. From the workers at KUB and Bellsouth to our volunteers and tent companies we couldn't have done it without you!

Jimmy, with Uncle Easy fireworks, even gave freebies for us to pass along to our volunteers and helped haul off the trash. His tent was the big one that came straight down. The small tent owned by Liberty FIreworks was the one decorating the phone lines. I have to say Liberty had good communication throughout.

Rachel, Aaron, Charity and Sam tried to salvage what they could. Martha, John, Allie and Gwen pitched in with the clean up. We've still got final pick up work to do and more volunteers are coming next week but we're almost as good as new. What a real tribute to everyone who helped!
Thank you all!

Storm Takes Out Hope for Healing.Org Phone Lines

Bellsouth/AT&T is working on the lines as we speak. (These guys are heroes!)

The tent company that put the fireworks tent up should be here later today. We hope to be up and running soon! Thanks for your patience!

Hope for Healing.Org Closes Tomorrow 7/6 Because of Storm

We've had a little wind today and may not be able to open tomorrow. If you are scheduled or want to shop please give us a call first. Here are a few pictures of the fireworks tent that was in front of the building. Thankfully, no one was injured.

Angel Food Distribution Saturday

Don't forget to pick up your Angel Food box Saturday. We'll be distributing from the United Methodist church from 10:30 - 11:30.

The thrift shop will still be open. If we have enough volunteers on hand we'll be selling hot dogs. Don't let the fireworks tents scare you off. There's still plenty of parking and plenty of thrift shop bargains to be had.

We'll see you Saturday!

Hope for Healing.Org has an eBay to go!

We've got a new "eBay To Go"! This highlights all of our active listings one at a time.

These proceeds are an important part of keeping us active. It also provides job training skills and helps people get back on their feet. You'll find everything from new items to recreated ones.

The recreated ones are items that have been recreated by Hope Youth. These are juvenile offenders or regular volunteers. We want to take everything that is donated to us and make it saleable. The kids go a long way in helping us meet that goal. Be especially on the lookout for mirrors and etched glass pieces. The kids take special pride in those.

I hope you enjoy the widget. As always, let us know what you think.

Thanks!
Gayle

The Fireworks Tents Have Arrived!

If you've been by our office today you probably wondered about the buzz of activity in our parking lot. We've been fortunate to have been able to rent the front of our lot to two different fireworks companies. If today is any indication they'll be bringing traffic to the store. We can't wait. Be sure to stop in and say hello if you buy fireworks.

TOday was such a busy day. We had 4 juvenile offenders and one teen volunteer in today. They helped process the donations that people brought in and fixed things so the tent companies could set up the fireworks stands. From a money making standpoint we didn't do too well. It was a little overcast. While we can sure use the rain it ends our business every time. Fortunately, we don't worry about money too much though. Not as long as we are able to pay the rent and utilities anyway.

The third weekend of the month is between paydays for many people. It's also a time when people hit us up for help with bills - usually utilities. Today was no exception. In the midst of everything going on a woman stopped by who needed a kind word and some reassurance. These are two things we love to give out and we offer them generously. She left feeling better than when she came in. And that, my dear blog reader, is what makes everything we do worth the effort.

Talk to you next time,

Gayle

Juvenile Offender Not Here to Work

She wasn't here to work. That's what she said when she got here anyway.



The door opened slowly this Saturday morning. In walked one of our community service kids. Some people would call her difficult. In reality, that might be kind. A likeable kid but with problems. Her first day here was one of attitude. I wasn't sure she'd come back for day two but she did. She also has to avoid certain parties per court order who are also coming here to work. Now, on a day when she's not scheduled, in she walks.



"I'm not here to work today Miss Gayle". She tells me. "I just thought I'd hang out."



I told her that she may as well help me in the office. She eagerly obliged and pitched right in. I didn't say anything. I just let her talk while we worked. Soon my office was sorted and the problem she'd had on her mind when she came in was aired. There were no real answers for her but she seemed to feel better for having been heard.



When she announced that she better be getting back home and she left.



I looked at the neatly stacked piles, sorted and straightened items and marked her down for volunteer time. If we can't solve her problems we can at least give her the credit for what she did when she "wasn't here to work."

What a Grand Opening it was!

Our thrift shop grand opening was Saturday and it was great! DJ Express kept us entertained with a variety of great music. We munched out on the best hot dogs in Strawberry Plains and we nearly ran out of Jones Soda. It was a really great day! Thanks to all who came out!

Winners of the raffle were:

Gas Grill - Brad Franks
Dinner for 2 - Hope King

And yes, we have a few of those nifty tye-dyed T's that our youth made. They're going fast so if you want one, move quickly. :-)

Great job!

The food distribution went smoothly. Over 65 boxes were distributed in near record time. Helping were 10 volunteers, 6 of them were teens!

Afterward, some of the teens headed over to the thrift shop. We waited on customers, created mirrors and did some glass etching. You should have seen the confidence level in the kids. It went from low to soaring! The projects look great and are functional. All proceeds benefit Hope for Healing.Org. Look for the "Made by a Teen Volunteer" tag on these items.

Speaking of the thrift shop, our grand opening is Saturday. We'll have DJ Express, Hot Dogs, a gas grill giveaway and more. See what's on the Knoxville News Sentinel Website.

We'll see you on Saturday!

Secondhand Hope Charity Thrift Shop Grand Opening June 2

What does a charity thrift shop grand opening look like? Bring your family and friends and come see!

The fun takes place on Saturday, June 2 from 10:00am - 2:00pm at our new thrift store, Secondhand Hope. We're at 2912 Highway 11-E in Strawberry Plains right next to Rush Strong School.

DJ Express will keep us entertained with great music. Hot dogs will be hitting the grill. There will be face painting, thrift shop deals and lots of fun. Plus, bring your used cell phone or empty ink jet cartridge to receive a free gift!

Raffle tickets are being sold for $1.00. The drawing happens at 1:00 pm at the grand opening. Some lucky winner will win a new gas grill. (The winner need not be present.) We'll have other giveaways and door prizes too!

This is one event you will not want to miss!

All proceeds benefit Hope for Healing.Org as we help victims of domestic violence, distribute Angel Food boxes, operate the Helpline, work with juvenile offenders and make hope happen here in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee.

For more information contact our office at 933.8769 or visit our blog at http://hopeforhealingorg.blogspot.com/