Tyndall, SD

Volunteering a few shifts at the Bargain Shoppe (located next to the Cavalier Center on Main street Tyndall) the past couple of months has proven to be a great experience!

Each time I have volunteered, I have been pleasantly surprised by the “new treasures” that appear.  I have noticed other “new treasures” from the previous volunteer shift that have found new homes.  It IS true: “One man’s/(woman’s) trash/(more than likely a result of a spring cleaning effort) is another’s treasure”!!  I have seen this adage verified by the flow of items through the Bargain Shoppe.

While having certain responsibilities when volunteering at the Bargain Shoppe, there are certainly ‘perks’ as well.  For example one can scope the shelves of kitchenware and household items.  One can investigate the titles and genres in the book shelves as well.  It can be noted the “Spring is in the air’ when straightening and placing clothing items on the racks in the center of the store and on the walls rack as one notices more of the light spring/summer style of clothing that is arriving.  I have been happy to place a few maternity clothing items, as well as baby items on the shelves as well this past week. (Need a car seat that stays in YOUR vehicle for that new grandchild, niece, or nephew? Yes, we have some!)  Oh…don’t forget to let the kids explore the toy bins.  Kids are wonderful little explorers who seem to find treasures buried in the bin that one would not notice at first glance…..Just try it!  I have also noticed an assortment of children’s books as well, along with a couple of puzzles boxes and ….Paper dolls! (Remember playing with paper dolls as children?  Remember how much fun it was to use our imagination?) I’ve also seen a few CD’s, a CD case and children’s videos from time to time.

Kudos to the person(s) responsible for hanging the wall racks for clothing.  It certainly is an asset to the space challenged Shoppe.  My thanks to Nelson Stone for his carpentry skills when the free arm hanging dress/curtain racks fell from the wall last Friday.(Who said vounteering was ever boring?)  We also have acquired an ironing board, iron , and water spray bottle for providing a little TLC to items that may have had a difficult transit to the Shoppe.

 Another ‘perk’ when volunteering at the bargain Shoppe are the wonderful people you meet and greet as they come through the door!  I have been privileged to meet and greet both new people (to me anyway) as well as re-acquaint with familiar faces.  How Wonderful!  As you can see, not all of the “treasures” are found on shelves or racks when one is volunteering at the Bargain Shoppe!

I encourage anyone and everyone to volunteer a shift or a few hours here and there at the bargain Shoppe or stop by to see what is new to you. (I may be what’s new to you…who knows?)  I have certainly found my experience to be:  Challenging(I’ve never taken a bookkeeping course/barely balance my checkbook, so find much joy when columns of numbers equal the amount of cash in the till), Creative(arranging a temporary home in the Shoppe for items donated), Soothing and Peaceful(the rhythm of the pace is pleasantly different from my job as an ICU nurse), Exciting(remember the racks which fell), and Wonderful(whether I meet you for the millionth time or for the first time)

Come and explore the treasures to be found at the Bargain Shoppe both as a volunteer and an explorer!!

jeannieb.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm and is filed under 06. Leadership: Skills and Mobilizing, 09. Community: Knowledge and Awareness, 10. Community: Skills and Mobilizing, 11. Community: Action, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.