The People Helped Us Too

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I first came to FROM in the early 2010’s as a struggling divorced mom of two. I was working a part-time job that wasn’t meeting my financial needs, and my girls and I shopped in the Thrift Store for clothes.

In 2015, my husband Scott and I married, after meeting through our kids, and had to provide for our five kids.

FROM helped fill the gaps. Mobile Food Pantry and other food programs helped provide food. The Backpack Distribution and Christmas Toy Store and Food Basket helped fill other gaps.

We were sad that we couldn’t buy enough food and get new clothes for the kids. FROM helped us, and not just the tangible items like food and school supplies.

The people helped us too. We felt kindness here, not pity. We were not seen as broken people, hopeless or useless. We found friends and neighbors who were volunteers and program participants just like us. We received a warm greeting with smiling faces. There was hope that life would get better. It meant a lot to not feel alone or defeated for a while. We kept working and learning and, eventually, life did get better.

Even when we had nothing, we volunteered and donated what we could. Today, we continue to volunteer, as do our kids, and I joined FROM staff in 2021. Giving to others has always been a big part of who we are, as individuals and as a family. We do it to be kind, and to share a mission of hope.

A giving spirit stokes the fire of hope in others. We wish to inspire people to keep trying and moving forward. Because there is always hope for you too.

Today, I’m glad to work at FROM because I can relate to families facing struggles. I understand that sometimes it’s still not enough even when you’re doing the best you can. While FROM can’t fix everything, we can help with basic needs, fill a gap or make someone’s day a little brighter simply by listening.

Spring Clean Up with Repair & Restore

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Last weekend FROM held their second annual Repair & Restore Spring Clean up Event. About a dozen volunteers helped out on outdoor projects throughout the greater Lowell community.

Volunteers worked on 6 projects throughout the day that included cleaning gutters and picking up yards to prepare for summer. The biggest project of the day involved moving a large wooden shed 50 feet up a hill in preparation for a future ramp installation project.

“It was great weather and everyone showed up fully prepared to get dirty and serve our community,” Bob Rogers, the volunteer who leads the FROM Repair & Restore project, said.

The Repair & Restore program provides small home repairs throughout the year, with the Spring-Clean up event being a service area wide outdoor project that happens one Saturday a year in the spring.

If you are a homeowner in the Lowell Area School District and are in need of some small home repairs, please reach out to our Connections Office (616-897-8260 ext 125) to talk to Monica about options available to you. If you love working outdoors and are looking for ways to give back to the community, be sure to sign up to volunteer for the next Repair & Restore event by visiting our website (fromlowell.org/volunteer/).

A big thank you to every volunteer who came out to serve your community on May 20! We are so thankful for your heart to serve your neighbors in need.

Meet Amanda!

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A FROM Donor story –

Meet Amanda.

Amanda Rogers is a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, leader, and business owner. Her business, Rogers Neighborhood Realty, is FROM’s newest Food Fight Match Base sponsor for 2023.

Volunteering and serving at more than nine local organizations, including FROM, you may wonder how one person could be involved in so many heartfelt organizations.

For Amanda, the answer is simple: Dedication, heart, and persistence.

“I am convinced that if everyone tried to make the world a better place right where they are at, in their little sphere, that we would all be a lot better off,” Amanda said. “[I’m] just trying to do my share and make opportunities for others to make a difference as well.”

Amanda started Rogers Neighborhood Realty in December of 2020. When asked to capture Rogers Neighborhood Realty, Amanda shared, “We enjoy being able to serve the community we live in with intentional care and extensive knowledge of all things real estate.”

The business now has four agents and a permanent location in historic downtown Lowell.

Amanda’s time at FROM hasn’t always been as a volunteer or donor. Her first experience was as a thrift store shopper. Living just a couple blocks away from FROM’s previous location on Jackson and Main, Amanda enjoyed having a thrift store within walking distance.

“The more I see of how the organization works, and how they process through decisions, the more I want to help them continue in their endeavors. It’s a natural fit for me!” she said about why she partners with FROM.

Thank you, Amanda, and all our Food Fight Match Base sponsors. We’re thankful that they have generously helped provide a more than $40,000 match challenge! The match is available between now and June 1, or until the match base has been completed. Make a donation online today at: fromlowell.org/donate

 

 

Meet Forest Hills Presbyterian Church!

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A FROM Church Involvement Story

Meet Forest Hills Presbyterian Church.

Located at the corner of Cascade and 36th street, Forest Hills Presbyterian may be just outside the Lowell area but their impact here at FROM has been influential. It was the interruption of the church’s food program, A.C.C.E.S.S.6 that led them to FROM. Once the church had become involved with FROM and its programs, they were so impressed and intrigued that they added it to their Mission Committee. Now, 30 parishioners volunteer for FROM helping in our food programs and among other positions.

With its current 300+ members working to fulfill the church’s mission, ‘Christ-Centered, People Focused, Mission Driven’, the church has been involved in many FROM programs. From our Food programs to the Thrift store, From Christmas projects to Backpack distribution and all the in-betweens, Forest Hills Presbyterian has continued to show up and share their time, energy, and efforts with us.

When asked what motivates the church to stay involved with FROM, it was just one sentence from their pastor that keeps them going. “We need to be Christ in other peoples’ lives.” With that, the church hasn’t stopped seeking ways to show up and serve. Forest Hills Presbyterian shared their experiences with FROM. “We see the impact of FROM every time we go, every time we get the newsletter, every time we man a truck or pack a commodities box. We are so grateful to FROM for allowing us to be a part of this amazing organization.” We’re glad Forest Hills Presbyterian has partnered with us in such an impactful, empowered way. Gratitude certainly goes both ways!

Thank you, Forest Hills Presbyterian.

 

Meet Nick and Judy!

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Meet Nick and Judy.

When COVID-19 halted resources, and communities, many of us made the move to work, and focus on staying home. When Nick and Judy found out their church’s food donation program was going to be interrupted, they followed their hearts to FROM. They hoped to help make sure those who were in need received help. Nick, a retired Independent Consultant and Judy, a retired Organizational Development Manager chose to show up for their community with helping hands and grateful hearts at a time of great unknowns.

The couple found themselves eager to serve FROM and its food programs.

“We found ourselves collecting and delivering items for the resale store, food for the pantry, working in the pantry as well as the various food distribution opportunities.” Judy shared.

Nick was excited to put his handy man skills to work, sharing his experience redesigning, building, and installing the new pantry.

“I would say that both, Judy and I are addicted to helping this organization.” Nick expressed.

For Judy, choosing to give back to the community was a very personal decision.

“I know how it is to not be sure if you will have enough money to feed your family and to keep the house heated,” she said. “I am blessed beyond measure that I am in a position now to be able to give time, money, resources and talents to this marvelous organization.”

We are so grateful that Nick and Judy chose FROM. Their laughter, life stories and very apparent love for those around them is truly contagious.

“We will continue to volunteer as long as FROM will have us!” Nick promises.

Together, they have volunteered many hours in FROM’s food programs, and in other administrative needs FROM has. With their church, Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, they’re involved in Mobile Food Pantries throughout the year.

Thank you, Nick and Judy!

 

2022 Food Fight Impact

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Throughout the month of May 2022 we held our annual friendly but fierce competition – that’s right – our annual Food Fight!

This once-a-year fundraising campaign splits the Lowell Area School District by M/21 / Fulton Street into the North Team and South Team. The campaign helps stock the food pantry, and raises funds to support all of the programs at FROM (we have more than a dozen!). Teams collect 1 point for each dollar or food item donated to FROM.

The team with the most points at the end is crowned the winner.

Together the teams raised more than 154,205 points this year – the most ever!

Generous matching sponsors helped provide a $37,250 match base that matched every financial gift until the match was completed.

We were blown away by the kindness of our community; the match was fulfilled before we were halfway through the fundraiser!

We celebrate the South Team for winning the 2022 Food Fight, winning 7 of the last 13 Food Fight Campaigns (North Team has won 6).

We are so thankful for each and every one of you who participated in Food Fight 2022. Because of you, we were able to touch the lives of families right here in our community. We are thankful for everyone who made a financial donation, collected or dropped off food, and for sharing this opportunity with the community.

Thank you to all our donors, including our Matching Sponsors (listed below) and Head Coach business sponsors: Chimera Design, Lowell United Methodist Church, Metric
Manufacturing, Poultry Management Systems, Inc., Brian and Cheryl Doyle, Karen Corbett, Timpson Transport Inc, First Congregational Church of Lowell, Richard and Margaret DeVoest, Alec and Karen McPherson, Canfield Plumbing and Heating, McDonalds, Patrick and Kati Doyle, Ada Bible Church, Lowell Area Schools

Meet our new Staff Members!

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Join us as we welcome Three new FROM staff members, Autumn Aldridge, Leah Groves and Cindy Dawes!

 

Autumn Aldridge

It’ll be Autumn greeting you as you enter FROM, serving as our new Office Administrator. Autumn was joined FROM at the end of February and is very happy about working for such a wonderful organization. “I love this organization and all that they do.” She shared.

Autumn looks forward to being part of the team while creating a welcoming experience for all. She has a heart for helping people and is looking forward to doing just that!

 

Leah Groves

Leah is FROM’s new Development Coordinator. She started in Early March. You may be wondering what a Development Coordinator does and we’re glad you’re curious! Leah will be focusing on marketing FROM programs to help raise awareness of their availability. Leah is passionate about creating connections between resources available and the community members in need. She often says, “Accessibility is everything!”

Outside of working hours, Leah serves as a Lowell City councilmember. In between work and her council duties, she enjoys spending her time with her sons, Lleyton and Beck.

Cindy Dawes

                Cindy Dawes stopped in to FROM to shop one day and decided she liked it so much she’d like to stick around! Cindy will be joining us as our new Sales Associate in Treasures Thrift Shop. Cindy is looking forward to giving back to the community while meeting new people and building lasting friendships.

Spending time with her husband, daughters and grandchildren is very important to Cindy. If Cindy is not working or spending time with her family and friends, she enjoys completing jigsaw puzzles!         

Next time you stop in at FROM, be sure to say ‘Hello!’ to Autumn, Leah and Cindy!

“I still haven’t found that book”

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For George Watson, Monday morning is one of the most enjoyable parts of the week. George has volunteered at 

FROM (Flat River Outreach Ministries) for nearly a decade. His time is spent sorting books and preparing the book section of Treasures Thrift Store. George has also enjoyed creating friendships with volunteers who work in the same time slot as him over the years.  

 

George began volunteering with FROM after searching in the thrift store for a book about woodworking.  He developed a love for the section and decided he wanted to be involved.  

 

“I still haven’t found that book,” he laughed.  

 

Since then, George has sorted and sold many kinds of books but highlights the faith section as one of his favorites.   

 

“I think it is important to provide the community with religious material,” he said. George has enjoyed working with many volunteers over the years, including Donna Jean Ford, who passed away in 2020. You can read her story here. He and his fellow book department volunteers are all incredibly passionate about their positions. 

 

 “We are all very detail oriented,” he said. “Empty shelves don’t sell books.”  

 

Outside of FROM, George loves to spend time in his hobbies, which include Woodworking, farming, and tractors. Working in the book department has also given George a chance to expand his knowledge on these hobbies through books he purchased and read.  

 

“I love seeing all the different texts,” he said. “I am one of my own best customers.”  

 

“As an avid reader myself, I so appreciate what George and everyone in the book department does,” Arianne Hall, Development Director said. “I always find such fun books at FROM. You can tell the passion George has for books through the displays! I’m so thankful for his passion about FROM and his hard work!” 

Thank you, George, we appreciate everything you do and for the more than 1,600 hours you’ve given to your community through volunteering!   

 

Working Together to Give Back

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Ray and Beth have been involved in FROM since the very beginning in 1998. Ray helped establish FROM and served on the board for several years. Beth became involved by volunteering in various roles.

Now, Ray and Beth volunteer in the food pantry, spending their Tuesdays sorting donations, stocking shelves, and forming relationships with the participants who stop in.

“We enjoy doing this,” said Beth. “It gives us a lot of satisfaction to help other people.”

Kelly Glas, FROM Healthy Food Program Coordinator, enjoys working alongside Ray and Beth.

“Ray and Beth are consistent, hardworking and really understand the mission here at FROM,” she said. “They’re always willing to go the extra mile to, sign up for extra shifts, and simply being a smiling face to those around them.”

Both Ray and Beth also help in other programs such as the Christmas distribution when they are needed.

“They go above and beyond in volunteering,” Monica Light, Program Manager, said. “Not just through FROM but within the community. They are truly selfless people that will help because it’s the right thing to do.”

The retirees spend time on their hobbies such as gardening in their yard, learning to paint at LowellArts, or staying involved in their church.

The extra time has also allowed them to enjoy their time volunteering at FROM and spending time with their friends. They have formed many memories while creating friendships with both participants and fellow volunteers.

“It’s like visiting our family once a week,” Beth said about her volunteer experience.

Between the two of them, they’ve given nearly 3,000 hours of time to the community through their volunteering at FROM. We are so thankful for them and the incredible impact they make in the community.

Tips for Your Next Thrift Store Trip!

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Many of our staff and volunteers here at FROM are avid thrift store shoppers! We asked our Marketing Communications Intern, Liz, to share her top tips for how to find treasures and snag the best deals on your next shopping trip. 

 

Thrift shopping is one of my favorite activities. There is always a big rush when your next favorite sweater appears in your life and you also got it for an amazing price. I picked up a number of these tips from my sister, who also loves to thrift. 

 

Thrifting used to be so stressful for me. The crowds, the racks, and did I mention the crowds? My sister explained that the thrifting experience is more than buying a shirt and leaving, the fun part is looking through aisles, trying things on, and giving yourself the time and space to do so. It is a no-pressure time, so don’t add the extra expectation that you ARE going to find a Gucci bag, but that you COULD find one. 

 

After getting into the right headspace and bringing a friend or two, I am now able to fully enjoy the experience and now it has become an activity to help me de-stress. What I love about FROM is that they’re always giving out deals to help make these finds a little sweeter. Keep reading below for some tricks to make your next trip overflow with treasure. 

 

Shop on the Right Day

There is nothing worse than spotting an item and then watching someone else get it first. This has happened to me more times than I can count. The mourning process of what could have been is a hard one to get over. Finding the best day to shop can make or break your experience. For FROM, there is a line out the door almost every Monday, if you are an olympian on thrift shopping, go for it. However, if you like the peaceful atmosphere of a browsing experience, try a Wednesday afternoon or anytime later in the week when we tend to be less busy.

 

Shop Off-Season For Clothes

When checking out a coat in the middle of August, you might get a few looks of confusion or maybe even concern. However, when other pro thrifters see you you’ll get the nod of approval. Other thrift stores give a better deal for out-of-season clothing and materials and FROM is no different. Also, the coats and sweaters will be less picked though so a surprise find is basically guaranteed. 

 

Know When Your Store Restocks 

Restock day is like Christmas in the thrifting community. It’s the newest and shiniest toy under the tree. It will be a busy day but it will be worth it when you get to have first dibs on items. FROM restocks all week, meaning you can make visiting an occasional trip or a daily one. Either or, there will always be something new to find!

 

Dress For The Occasion

Some thrift stores will have changing rooms, while others might not. It is a dangerous game of guessing which is true. It would be a shame to see a dress and think, “yeah that’s so me” buy it, and then try it on only to see that green is not your color. Luckily FROM has some but depending on the day it could be busy. If you don’t have time to wait in lines then dress for the occasion with simple modifications. Are you getting a dress? Bring heels so you can test the length. Looking for a sweater? Wear a tank or a t-shirt so you can try one on. Wearing comfortable shoes is also a must, if you’re going to shop till you drop, make sure you don’t drop for a while.

 

Look For Items to Repurpose

Are you a repurpose expert? I give props to you then because I am still learning this impressive skill. FROM offers many items that can be changed to their full potential. We’ve got tables, chairs, and a bunch of promising items for you to start your next mission. We’ve seen people take old clothing and bring them to life through tie-dye, and many others who have created crafts out of old ties, and brought new life to furniture. The possibilities are truly endless at FROM. 

 

Scan The Aisles

It can be really easy to spend hours looking at each individual piece of clothing on the racks. You might want to make sure you aren’t missing an item that would make all your friends jealous. Unfortunately, not everyone has hours to spend, if you train your eyes and mind to be able to scan the aisles for those pieces you’ve been looking for, then you’ll save so much time. Think of it like a 6th sense, a fashion sense!

 

Make Friends With Your Thrift Store Staff 

Thrift stores don’t run on their own. They need a devoted staff and or volunteers to help keep them running. Most of the time, the people working there are just as passionate as you about thrifting. If you become friends or acquainted with the staff, they can help you find good deals, give advice, or let you know if that top you found looks good! Our staff and volunteers get to know many of our customers, and we’d love to get to know you too so we can help you find those unique items perfect for you! 

 

Why Shop Second Hand

It can bring a thrill when you find an expensive piece for a great price. This feeling alone might be why many choose to thrift, yet, there is also an even better payoff from shopping second-hand. By giving cute tops and couches a second chance at life, you’re keeping them out of landfills. We’ve seen lots of people give clothing a second, third or fourth life by purchasing items through our thrift store. In fact, some people purchase from us, use it awhile and then donate it back to pass it along to someone else.  

 

About Liz: Lis is a junior at Cornerstone University studying Marketing. She’s an avid thrifter and has been interning with FROM since May 2022.

We’re Hiring – A Seasonal Thrift Store Associate!

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We’re so blessed by the volunteers that put in so many hours at FROM (Flat River Outreach Ministries), including Treasures Thrift Store!

 

Our 2022 Thrift Store sales are projected to surpass $500,000 by the end of the year – a new store record!

 

This growth has allowed us to launch new programs, like our Farm Market, and dream big about future programs that still need to come to our community.

 

One area that has continued to be a struggle, despite best efforts from staff and volunteers, is to have enough cashiers to effectively staff and run our thrift store. Currently, we have 48 cashier slots and only 28 volunteers who sign up weekly to fill them.

We’re headed into our holiday season, which is our busiest, and we know consistent coverage at the register is critical for a positive customer experience. We recognize that upcoming holidays and vacations will also impact our ability to staff the registers. Our choices are to either close the store when we don’t have coverage – or hire a seasonal full-time Thrift Store Associate.

 

In an effort to not lose the momentum we have built since the pandemic (when we had to close the store for more than 3 months), we are moving forward with hiring a seasonal Thrift Store Associate.

 

Volunteers cashiers are absolutely still critical for the store to function. This position will work alongside our incredible volunteer cashiers, filling in at the register when shifts are not covered. When shifts are covered, the Thrift Store Associate will be assisting in the second highest need area – our Thrift Store Donation Room.

 

Working in the donation room will help alleviate pressure, and items from the room, to assist volunteers who are also working in that space. More than just a way to support our mission, the Thrift Store also serves as a program to ensure families have access to other basic needs at an affordable price.

 

We still encourage folks to sign up to volunteer to help us eliminate the cashier shortage. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in volunteering as a cashier 1-2 shifts a month, please fill out the volunteer interest form today.

 

If you are interested in applying for the Full-Time Seasonal Thrift Store Sales Associate, please apply today by clicking here.

Starting off right – backpack distribution 2022

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340 students walked into their first day of classes in August with the confidence that they had a backpack and school supplies to take the school year head-on.

Kids were able to pick out their backpack and collect school supplies specific for their school, grade and classroom.

A big thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out – including a group from Lowell Family Dentistry – as well as support from our community through school supply and financial donations. 

Preparation for the August distribution started in April when the team sat and made the game plan. This included coming up with ideas on how to improve from the previous years. 

“We were essentially coming out of a COVID-19 restriction time,” said Monica. “We always ask the question ‘how could we make sure we help everyone involved in the best way?’ Then June-July came and registration began. Registration is important because it helps FROM know how many supplies to purchase, especially ones that are specific to one grade or classroom. 

Alongside the Backpack Distribution, the Alto Lions Club offered free vision screenings. This was another effort from the FROM team to make the Backpack Distribution program experience as pleasant as possible. “We are always looking to make the experience as enjoyable for kids as the parents,” Monica said.

“I’ve always been treated with kindness and respect and it is appreciated immensely,” a program participant shared. “It’s hard to admit you’re struggling, but FROM never makes you feel ashamed of asking for help.”

Backpack Distribution happens the second week of August each year and is available to families who live in the Lowell Area School District and make 300% of the Federal Poverty Level or less or have an expressed need. You don’t have to attend the Lowell Area Schools, you just have to live in the district and have a child attending school The Backpack Distribution is one of more than a dozen programs FROM offers throughout the year. The next program requiring registration is our Christmas Toy Store and Food Basket. Registration starts November 1st, 2022 and the program will be held the second week of December. Click here to learn more about the Christmas Toy Store and Food Basket and all other FROM programs.