‘Heart and Hands’ Ministry celebrates first anniversary

Shopping in Motley Judy Tryggeseth of Motley said she enjoys shopping at Heart and Hands Thrift Store in Motley. She tries to One year after its grand opening, Heart and Hands Ministry/Thrift Store is going strong and continuing to meet the needs of people in the Motley and Pillager areas.

In celebration of their first anniversary, Heart and Hands will be open extra hours during the week of March 8 - 13. They’re hoping many people stop by to browse, ask questions; and enjoy free coffee and goodies.

Located in the former United Methodist Church of Motley, Heart and Hands is a non-denominational, non-profit organization that’s been established to help needy people from this community.

“It’s been a growing experience...,” said Mike Lorber, who helped head up the ministry along with his wife, Sandy. “When we started three years ago with a garage sale in an unheated pole barn, we did not know where the Lord was leading us; but we knew that we needed to start,” Mike added.

Thrift store volunteers Eight-year-old Morgan Swecker and her grandmother, Gay Swecker, were volunteer workers recently at the Heart and Hands Thrift Store in Motley. The thrift store has been at its present location (in the former Motley United Methodist Church building) since March of 2009; and is celebrating its one-year anniversary during the week of March 8 - 13. The public is invited to stop by during business hours (see story) and enjoy free coffee and goodies. (Staples World photo by Dawn Timbs) Heart and Hands moved to its present location at 217 3rd Ave. South in Motley last March.

Since that time, thousands of dollars have been raised by selling donated items at the thrift store. After paying operating expenses (approximately $1,000 a month) all of the money goes to help people in need. Mike stressed that all of the people involved with Heart and Hands are volunteers. Nobody gets any money for what they do.

Mike shared some of the ways the money has been used this past year:

o $750 to each of the area food shelves in Motley, Pillager and Staples

o $185 for new tires for a single mom’s car in the Pillager area

o $200 for a single mom’s electric bill

o $123 paid to the City of Pillager to keep water turned on for a family

o $478 paid a fuel bill for a family with young children in Staples to keep their heat on

o $450 paid the rent for a family with young children in Motley to keep them from being evicted.

During one month’s time, Mike shared, three area families lost everything to house fires. Heart and Hands gave them all clothing, household items and furniture.

In addition to giving away money and material items to people in need, Heart and Hands thrift store provides an inexpensive place for people to buy good used clothing and household items. The money they save by shopping at the thrift store ensures that they can better afford their food, housing and medical expenses.

“As with many other charities, we are always in need of more financial support,” Mike shared. “We have one church that contributes to us monthly and several others who have stepped in when we have been facing special needs.”

Mike said Heart and Hands would like to see other churches and civic organizations get involved as well. “We cover our operating expenses with store sales, so 100 percent of any donation, large or small, will go to meet the needs of people right here in our communities.”

At present, Mike reports, there are 20 faithful volunteers who handle the stocking of shelves, sorting donations and covering the sales. There is also a nineperson board to help with the business operations.

These volunteers are from the local area, including the communities of Staples, Motley, Leader, Pillager and Lincoln. They represent three churches at this time.

There are even some young people who have gotten involved with the ministry.

“We have one teenage girl who has caught the vision for helping others,” Mike said. “She brings us gift cards for gas and stores like Wal-Mart and Target to give out as needed. This girl alone, out of her own pocket, has given over $250 in cards.”

Heart and Hands is always looking for more volunteers, Mike said. “With more help we could be open more days and longer hours,” he added.

Last fall, Heart and Hands was approached by the Social Justice Committee of the Catholic churches in Motley and Staples to partner with them to offer free coats to the community.

Mike explained that the area schools and some area stores had coupons to hand out for free coats to those that needed them. People could then bring the coupon to the thrift store, where they were given a coat and warm clothes.

In all, Mike said, over 450 coats and warm clothes were given out from October to January.

According to their mission statement, the purpose of Heart and Hands is to aid individuals, families, children and single parents in the Motley, Pillager and surrounding areas by:

o Meeting material needs as God presents them...i.e. helping with home repairs, free clothing and household items from the thrift store, emergency funding, etc.

o Working with and supporting the Motley and Pillager Food shelves

o Involving area churches to gather donations of clothing and household items for the store; recruiting volunteer help, establishing a local support network that the people we help can plug into

o Strengthening the community by supplying low cost good used items, giving our neighbors the opportunity to donate excess clothing and to help those in need; and allowing the volunteers to be a part of a local ministry.

Heart and Hands’ short term plans are to stay at their present location and to continue operating as they have been. “We are finishing with our 501(c)(3) application and applying for grants with the hope to buy the building,” Mike said.

Long term plans, he added, include looking into affordable housing or emergency housing for people.

Heart and Hands Thrift

Store is open Thursdays, 9

a.m. - 3 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9

a.m. - 1 p.m. Mondays are

designated as a volunteer ‘work night,’ from 6 - 8 p.m.

and the store is also open for sales.

For more information, call Sandy at 218-352-6970; or e-mail heartandhands@ brainerd.net. “We even have a facebook page, so look for us and become a fan,” Mike said.