Motley thrift store Located in the former Motley United Methodist Church on 3rd Ave. South, "Heart and Hands Thrift Store" is open Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m. 5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The volunteer-run ministry is sponsored by Casino Assembly of God Church; and the money raised goes to help area residents in need. (Staples World photo by Dawn Schimpp Timbs) Heart and Hands Thrift Store in Motley has been going strong since its grand opening March 14; and Mike and Sandy Lorber, volunteers with the nonprofi t ministry, are hoping it will be around for years to come.

"We may be out of a home after December; but

I'm praying something

will work out," Sandy said. "There are still so many

people that need help."

Located at 217 3rd Ave. South (in the former United Methodist Church of Motley), the thrift store is sponsored by Casino Assembly of God Church; and run by faithful volunteers, many of whom spend up to 12 hours a week at the store - often after working regular full-time jobs.

Faithful volunteers Sandy and Mike Lorber (pictured above) stand in the library/bookstore of "Heart and Hands Thrift Store" in Motley, a ministry they were instrumental in starting last March. Pictured below, Dolores Johnson (left) and Sue Peterson, regular volunteers, help sort through clothes that have been donated to the thrift store. (Staples World photos by Dawn Schimpp Timbs) The Lorbers are in charge of Heart and Hands; a ministry born out of their desire to give back to others.

After going through a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2003, Mike and Sandy were overwhelmed by the love and support they received from their church and community until they could get back on their feet again. The accident - and its aftermath - was a turning point in the Lorbers' lives and they have felt called ever since to be of service to others.

Heart and Hands Ministry, they believe, is part of that calling; and they are thrilled to see how well the thrift store has been going since its opening six months ago.

The two-story building is filled to the brim with a variety of clothes, furniture, household items, books; and baby items.

"We have one room devoted entirely to shoes; another that looks like a nursery...there are a lot of baby clothes, cribs, monitors, toys, you name it," Sandy said. "There's also a room we call the library. So many books...it's wonderful."

Volunteers have spent hours organizing shelves; pricing items; separating clothes into various categories; and manning the cash register as well.

For Mike and Sandy, the time and sweat equity have all been worth it.

"It's been great to see how many people have been helped already," Sandy said, sharing the story of one family that contacted Heart and Hands after losing everything they owned in a house fire.

Thanks to money raised at the thrift store, the family was set up in temporary housing and given the basic necessities that they needed until they could get back on their feet.

"Our goal is to offer emergency temporary housing right here at the store; but in the meantime, we've let people stay in our home when they have nowhere else to go," Sandy said.

In addition to providing finances used to help those in need; the Lorbers see the thrift store as a way to help people who can't afford to pay full price for clothes and household items.

"I met one teen-age girl who stopped by to get some back-to-school clothes," Sandy recalled. "She spent $15 and went home with a large bag full of some really nice outfits. She was thrilled. We're seeing more kids taking advantage of the thrift store."

With winter fast approaching, volunteers have been filling the shelves with boots, coats and other warm attire. "We don't want to see anyone go cold this winter. No one should be without a good coat," Mike said.

At the moment, Heart and Hands is no longer taking donations. "We have so many clothes right now; we have to sell a lot before we have room for any more," Sandy said.

The Lorbers said they are grateful to the generosity of so many local people who have made donations of one kind or another.

Some have given their belongings; others have given their time. Many have also made financial donations to Heart and Hands Ministry.

"One 16-year-old girl has bought gift cards for us to give out to people in need," Sandy shared. "She has spent over $260 of her own hard-earned money to help others. That's pretty neat."

Volunteers come from all over. Many are affiliated with local churches; some are relatives of the Lorbers; and a few have stopped by simply because they heard about Heart and Hands and wanted to help in some way.

Sue Peterson of Motley and Dolores Johnson of Staples are often at the thrift store Monday evenings, sorting through boxes of donations and putting clothes on hangers.

"I like that I'm able to help someone in need," Sue said.

For Dolores, volunteering at the thrift store is something she enjoys; and it's a meaningful experience. "It also gets me out of the house," she added.

No one is making money at the thrift store, Mike pointed out. "Anyone that works here is a volunteer. All of the money that comes in goes to help people in need; or to pay operating expenses for this building."

Currently, Heart and Hands is leasing the building from a private party whose balloon note is up at the end of the year. Obviously, this affects the fate of the ministry.

"We may not be here after December," Sandy said recently. "But, if that's the case, we believe God has something else in store for Heart and Hands."

The Lorbers are hoping that someone might come

forward who can offer

a solution. Mike said, "Maybe someone knows of

a way we can stay here at this location; or maybe they know of a completely different building that might be an even better fit for this ministry."

Heart and Hands Thrift

Store is open Thursdays, 9

a.m. - 1 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9

a.m. 1 p.m. For more information about the store and the ministry, call 218-352- 6970.