|
Faith Hope and Charity Recycle Store had very humble
beginnings. It started in 1978 with three couples from the First United Methodist
Church (then Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church) who decided to sell
vegetables on the town square to raise money to start a Christian Learning
Center. |
| Then the Mission Committee invited the gardeners and farmers
in our area to bring their extra produce and sell it on the town square.
This became such a success that clothing and household items began to be
donated to the committee for resale and the operation moved to the church
basement.
The committee set a goal of $1,200 to establish a Christian Learning Center
adjacent to Gilmer High School. Donations poured in and the goal for the
Christian Learning Center became a reality. This small endeavor grew into
helping the needy Gilmer County citizens. |
 |
 |
In January 1991, the recycle store moved out of the church and into a 2,500
sq. foot rented space on Dalton Street. Shortly our store needed more floor
space and leased the remaining one-half of that building doubling its space.
Selling the donations of used items enabled the store to contribute monthly to
such agencies as the Adult Learning Center, Community Action, Family &
Children's Services, Gilmer Food Pantry, Ga. Mountains Hospice and the Christian
Learning Center. Additionally, the store began to financially aid individual
hardship cases needing assistance for such items as rent, utilities, heating
bills, medicine and other emergencies. A policy was put into place to help
disaster victims with household necessities and supplying clothing to those in
need. |
By early 2002 our store had outgrown this 5,000 sq. foot facility. We leased
the 15,000 sq. foot building at 320 Maddox Drive and incorporated into Faith Hope and Charity
Recycle Store, Inc. We are now operating as a 501c-3 non-profit corporation
under IRS rules, and are not affiliated with any church as our volunteers come
from all denominations. We have continued to grow and raise more money to use
for the needy of Gilmer County.
|
 |
Our facility on Maddox Drive became too small. We needed more floor space for merchandise and a larger parking lot. We purchased 24,000 sq. feet of space and moved into our present facility in March of 2006. We started out using 16,000 sq. feet of space and then expanded to allow for a separate area for assistance interviews and more sorting and pricing room. In November of 2008, we opened a warehouse annex in our remaining space to house furniture, large appliances, and building materials. ALL monies after expenses go to assist the needy of Gilmer County. We strive to increase the quality of life of our fellow Gilmer County citizens with our money and provide a place to shop for clothes and household items at greatly reduced prices.
|
