Blessed to Be a Blessing

BY ABIGAIL MARTIN

Gently used clothing of all sizes hang on shiny silver racks in the sorting area of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Grateful Threadz Thrift Store. Community volunteers, like Laverne Winstead, steam clean the clothes before setting up displays and racks sorted for children, teens, and adults to provide a high quality shopping experience for families in the area.

“We like to dress the displays up by putting a little jewelry on them or finding a pair of shoes that go with them to make the outfit more appealing,” said Winstead, who has lived in the community for most of her life and once owned an appliance store in Mount Vernon.

“We want to create a space, like walking into a department store,” she added. “When you see something displayed nicely, it makes you want to buy it. We put only the very best out on the floor. If I wouldn’t buy it, I’m not going to put it out on the floor. That’s the thing about Grateful Threadz, everything is so nice and some of it even has brand new tags on it.”

Winstead said she never shops anywhere else for clothes and buys all her outfits for church at Grateful Threadz. She likes knowing the money she spends there, like that of all our shoppers, helps buy items for Grateful Bread Food Pantry, which is next door to the store.

“Community volunteers are important when operating Grateful Threadz and Grateful Bread. Volunteers are what keep both programs running daily,” said Angela Howard, the program coordinator of Grateful Threadz and Grateful Bread. At the thrift store, volunteers help sort, organize, and price items.

“If you are looking for something to do in your life, if you have that giving heart, if you’re looking to get outside of your comfort zone — you can have so many experiences that are rewarding beyond explanation,” Howard said. “It’s truly amazing to get out and see, help, and work with our participants. To have them come in and ask for you by name, to greet you with a hug, cry with you, and ask for prayers … you will truly become part of their extended family.”

Winstead agreed. “They will pray with you, they’ll love on you, they genuinely care about you — and I’m talking about the workers and volunteers. When I get to meet the people from the community that shop at the ’Gratefuls’ that is a bonus,” said Winstead, who was first introduced to CAP when she was raising her grandsons and running her business.

One day, while observing how stressful it was having young children in the store, a friend suggested that her grandchildren go to CAP’s Family Life Child Development Center (CDC). She eventually signed them both up.

When Winstead’s oldest grandson began high school, he wanted to serve the community, and he chose to volunteer at Grateful Bread. At the time, he wasn’t old enough to volunteer without an adult, so Winstead stepped in and volunteered with him. After he finished volunteering, she stayed. She continued as a community volunteer after closing her business and retiring.

“I just saw the need for the food and the clothing,” Winstead said. “The Lord has blessed me, and I need to bless others.”