Written by Amanda Coers – The Good Samaritan Ministries Resale Store has been in operation in Brownwood for over 20 years. The store, which sells donated clothing, household items, toys, shoes and more, was established in 1993 along with the food pantry which currently feeds over 1,000 families in Brown County each month.
The Resale Store is a hidden gem, unknown to much of the local community. The ministry hopes to encourage more shoppers with the remodel.
“A lot of people think the Resale Store is just for clients of Good Samaritan,” said Leesa Stephens, Executive Director. “But really, anyone can shop here. Every single penny spent at the Resale Store goes right back into the ministry at Good Samaritan. So just by shopping here you are helping to make sure someone has food on their plate.”
Thanks to funds raised during the #GivingTuesday event held on November 29th the team at Good Samaritan were able to install new flooring throughout the store as well as paint the walls. During the remodeling process, team members also completely restocked and rearranged the layout for easier shopping. A ribbon cutting for their Grand Reopening was held on Monday, January 9th at 11:30 a.m. with members of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Resale Store is stocked with donated items from the community.
“We have such a faithful community that continuously donates,” said Stephens. “We encourage everyone to shop at our Resale Store because more items are waiting to be stocked. The more people shop, the more we can put out these wonderful donations in our store.”
Shoppers are often surprised to find “hidden treasures,” like vintage dishes, classic books, stylish purses, household appliances, even brand new clothing items still tagged. Last year the ministry held a bridal fair to sell several high end wedding dresses donated to the store.
Just about anything you can imagine has been donated to the Resale Store, and ministry members are careful to be good stewards, sharing what they’ve been given. Medical supply items like canes, wheelchairs, shower chairs, ect. are donated to the Church of the Good Shepherd which has a medical supply ministry. Baby items like food, formula, and diapers are given to the Pregnancy Care Center. If Good Samaritan receives an abundance of books, they are shared with the public library and local schools. Tents, cots, mats, backpacks and other helpful items are set aside for the homeless. Blankets that are past their prime are donated to the Humane Society.
Even items that can’t be used, whether they’re stained, torn, ripped or broken, are donated to one of two charities who give the items new life and are repurposed. No donation is wasted.
To make the most of the abundance of donations, the Resale Store often has sales with items sold for 25¢ or even just a dime. Sales are posted on their Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/goodsambwd
Sadly, the overwhelming generosity of the community is at times a concern, when donations are left when the ministry is closed. Items left on the sidewalk can be ruined by weather, or even stolen before they can be stocked for resale. Ministry members ask the community to donate during regular hours, and will help unload items to ensure they’re received safely.
The Resale Store, located at 305 Clark Street, is open to the community on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The store is also open every third Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
