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Renewed Blessings
{Made new spiritually-Invoking divine care}
A place where the community can
Late in 2010, the Love INC board of directors began prayerfully considering the idea of opening a thrift store as a means to further the ministry to bless poor and needy people. After all Love INC had STUFF—tremendous amounts of household items, furniture, home decor, clothing, sporting goods, shoes and more! God heard those faithful prayers and began to open doors!
First, the space became available when other ministries within the Love INC building relocated. Next came the volunteers, Deb Roberts (yes that Deb Roberts) and Lisa Mulder stepped up to get the project started. Then there was the need for shelving, racks, hangers, cash register, all the physical needs, not to mention the volunteer need: store manager, clerks, merchandise handlers, and the list went on.
God continued to work through this ministry!
The volunteers found shelving and clothing racks on Craigslist and the seller reduced the price from $700 to $500 when heard how they were going to be used, eliminating his profit! More volunteers began to serve as the need increased and several used their personal vehicles to transfer the items to the site.
Calvary Church of Albuquerque contacted Love INC and provided the hands and feet of Jesus through their “Turn Us Loose” day. Their project: Put together the giant tinker toy set that would create the store environment!
Gary Hanko, the Executive Director of Uniting the Way, contacted Love INC and wanted to conduct a fundraiser, specifically for the Love INC thrift store. In April, he hosted a giant "Yard Sale" at his thrift store called “The Yard.” Together with Gary and volunteers, Love INC raised close to $3,000!
Sara Money, Love INC Executive Director consulted with the Owner of Star Bright Dry Cleaners regarding the need for hangers who put her in touch with Tom Bleess of Katzson Bros. who gave Love INC 4000 hangers!
Ladies from Christ the King Anglican Church came to sort and display items that had been stored in plastic bags and stacked from floor to ceiling. The thrift store was becoming a reality. Two questions remained, who was going to run it and what was its name?
God faithfully provided!
Who is going to manage the store? The search began for a store manager with a heart for the Lord, trustworthy and able to supervise the volunteers and who could create a warm and welcoming environment. Sara began collecting recommendations of Love INC friends. Two names quickly came to the top of the list. Mimi Montgomery and Tori Pilcher interviewed and hired to as store manager and assistant store manager respectively. One question answered one more to go!
What do we call the store? A contest began with the lucrative prize of $50 store credit to the person suggesting the best name. The Church Ministry Coordinators had the honor of reviewing 50+ entries and choosing the winner. Faithful Love INC volunteers Donna Jelso and Jeremy Hermann submitted the winning name and Renewed Blessings was born!
  
Now that you know the story
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