The tradition continues! The last days of the year will bring a massive rush of people donating clothes, household goods, furniture and more at GRACE Donation Station. For volunteers and staff it is “all hands on deck” to help unload cars and trucks, move donations into the Station, and size, sort and classify materials.
A public Call For Volunteers has been issued based on the anticipated volume of donations and the timing of the holidays.
GRACE Donation Station needs your help between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
“With New Year’s Eve on Saturday,” said Dave Mowers, GRACE Director of Resale, “Donors will come earlier in the week and continue through the end of the year.”
Dave anticipates as many as 250 generous donors each day between Monday, December 26 and Saturday, December 31, will brave the chill and bring their gifts to Donation Station, 112 North Scribner Street in Grapevine.
He believes Donation Station will need at least 10 more volunteers each three-hour shift, December 23, and December 26, 27 and 28. Fifteen more volunteers will be needed each shift (9 a.m-12 p.m./12-3 p.m./3-6 p.m.) on December 29, 30 and 31. A Sign-Up Genius has been posted to help in scheduling.
“”It will be fast-paced, and time will pass quickly,” said Dave. “Volunteers are so essential to help these donors deliver their gifts and get their receipts.”
For some donors, it is the draw of getting a final charitable receipt for the tax year that brings them in. For others, it is the year-end cleaning of closets, garages and other storage areas that generate their donations. Whatever the cause, the result is a tremendous benefit to GRACE.
“As will all donations, the first considerations are the needs of GRACE clients,” said Dave. Managers of GRACE Clients Services, GRACE Transitional Housing and the GRACE Clothing Room regularly submit “want lists” of items needed by their clients. These lists are posted on the wall at Donation Station and workers are asked to keep their eyes open for the items.
What items remain are stored for future use by clients, or sent to GRACE resale stores to help generate funds for clients. Twenty-five percent of the budget for GRACE Client Services is generated by resale revenues.
“All volunteers are needed at Donation Station after Christmas: individuals, families, groups from church, work or school—everybody,” said Dave.
To volunteer, go to “Help Ring In The Year”. For more information about Donation Station or the GRACE Resale Program, contact Dave Mowers at 817-305-4470, or email dmowers@gracegrapevine.org.
