After two years of success, Chesapeake United Methodist Church opened a new, larger location of Maxine's Closet Thrift Shop. That means more folks can shop for bargain-priced items while helping to feed more people in Lawrence County.
A mission of Chesapeake UMC [Shawnee Valley District], Maxine's Closet has a mission of "offering gently worn clothes for everyone, from infants to adults, at an unbeatable price. The proceeds go to the Community Mission Outreach food pantry to help grow their capacity to serve families struggling to put food on the table.
Your support of the World Service Fund apportionment help local congregations through the Four Areas of Focus engage in ministry with the poor.
"We had an instant connection with our community," Associate Pastor Rev. Christine Case, who serves as store manager, said in the news release. "Sales in our first year exceeded my goal of $25,000. We have been able to supplement the food pantry with over $30,000, with which they have been able to keep the shelves stocked and expand food offerings to items on many families' wish list."
"Customers began telling us almost from the moment we opened in 2015 that we needed more space," Case said in the release. "Our community has given us overwhelming support through donations of clothes and other merchandise and we knew before long that we needed to begin looking for a bigger building to meet the needs in our community. We explored several options, and in the end, have been blessed with our new space just one block from our church." The expansion is being helped, in part, by a Strategic Ministry Grant awarded to the church from the Shawnee Valley District.
The new location "provides nearly four times the space we had on third avenue, and the unique setting of a former bank, for shopping," Case said. "In addition, we have a nice parking lot and street parking for the convenience of our customers." "Our formula hasn't changed one bit. We serve our neighbors by offering gently used items at family friendly prices, and give our neighbors an avenue to serve by sharing donations of gently worn clothing and gently used household goods, as well as a place to serve our neighbors by volunteering at the thrift shop." The store's volunteer team has always been comprised of members of the church family, and it has grown to include members of other churches, as well as students and community members who believe in its mission. "We welcome those who would like to join us in this mission to come and see what God is doing," Case said.
The original store location continues to serve as a donation processing center. Donations are always welcome and can be brought to the store during regular store hours. After hours, donors can call the store at 740-861-6787 to arrange drop off.
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One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the World Service Fund is the financial lifeline to a long list of Christian mission and ministry throughout the denomination. Through the Four Areas of Focus churches are engaging in ministry with the poor which encourages them to be in ministry with their communities in ways that are transformative.
