Most of us collect things… clothes, furniture, decorations, but what do you do with those items when your done with them? Throw them away? Donate to Goodwill? Hold onto them forever? While now, there’s a new opportunity for your used goods to find a new home with There’s Enough.
Starting in 2018 as a dream of sustainability and community sharing from the United Methodist Church in Marshall, There’s Enough is non-profit free store providing a unique shopping experience.
How It Works:
Community members donate unwanted goods to There’s Enough. These items get refurbished, cleaned, and then displayed on the store floor. Once on the floor, anyone and everyone is welcome to “shop” the store. All items are free and no personal information is collected. Volunteers count the numbers of items selected at check out for data purposes, and the shoppers go on their way.
Expanding to Albion:
From the success and need seen in Marshall, Executive Director Ruthann Holmes and There’s Enough Board Members decided to expand their operations to provide donating and shopping experiences in Albion. With additional connections between church pastors, There’s Enough tested out Albion’s need through pop-up shops, and the response was overwhelming. It became evident that There’s Enough needed a permeant space in Albion.
Along comes Gwen and Willie Tabb, active community members and leaders in numerous Albion organizations.
The Vision of Life Building:
Founded by Vera Simpson, The Vision of Life was built to provide the Albion community with opportunity for intergenerational connection. Mrs. Simpson’s vision was to provide life skills like sewing, cooking, gardening, to the youth taught by the elders, she began working on her new life mission in 1999. Mrs. Simpson worked endlessly to make this vision a reality. With the support of The Vision of Life Board members, like Gwen and Willie Tabb, The Vision of Life began operating in 2009. Over time, the needs and success of classes changed. For the last few years, the building on has sat idle, waiting for its new purpose.
There’s Enough plus The Vision of Life Building:
After hearing about the mission and work of There’s Enough, Gwen and Willie Tabb proposed to The Vision of Life Board that their space on Austin Ave would be a great home for the Albion There’s Enough location. Align with the mission to provide and care for the community, there could not be a better partnership.
What’s Next:
As the final touches wrap up at The Vision of Life building, volunteers and team members are preparing to open the doors on Monday, August 18th at 10AM, a ribbon cutting will be at 8AM. The goal is for the store to be open Mondays – Wednesdays and Saturdays. Donations and volunteers are always welcome.