Many Hands Thrift Market is excited to announce the opening of a new store, located at 8801 University Avenue in Clive, IA, formerly occupied by Babies ‘R’ Us. The store, which will be the third location in Iowa for the Many Hands Thrift Market, is aiming to hold its grand opening in June 2020. Tim Brand, Executive Leader of Many Hands, feels even during these times of uncertainty, this store is needed now more than ever.
“We are a non-profit organization, serving people both locally and globally. All our profits and services go back to creating life-transformation opportunities for the underserved. Whether that be mothers and their newborn children in Haiti, retirees that need a place to connect with others, or a family needing to stretch their dollar to find high-quality items at a fraction of new items, this is why we exist. One thing I’ve learned through this pandemic crisis is we belong to each other. This store opening couldn’t come at a more needed time for our communities, both locally and abroad,” stated Brand.
The new Clive Many Hands Thrift Market promises to deliver the same high-level customer service, ease of donation process, and thrift shopping experience they’ve become known for in the Metro area. The store features merchandise appealing to all kinds of shoppers, with a wide variety of gently-used, secondhand goods such as men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, home décor, housewares, furniture, toys, and more. The store will also hold a wide selection of new items, such as folk-metal art, fair trade items, and Haitian-made products, providing much needed economic development for people making on average $1.27 a day.
Jeff Thomas, Many Hands Thrift Market Store Manager, shared what he believes the Clive location will bring into the community.
“Many Hands Thrift is not just about great thrifting. It has become a place where people from all walks of life are welcome. We are a family who works, laughs, and struggles together through the highs and lows of day-to-day life. We love getting to know our customers, hearing their stories, and being a listening ear. When you walk into this store, we want you to know that you are valued, not just as a customer, but as a person,” Thomas explained.
The proceeds from the store will go towards feeding and development programs in Haiti and to their Local Impact Programs. In Haiti, Many Hands walks with over 300 families with children from prenatal to five years old, providing services around nutrition, health care, education, and income generation. They also distribute food for over 3,000 school children and provide hand-powered wheelchair carts to over 500 recipients. Their Local Impact Program includes their quarterly Give Local events, Surge volunteer events, and resourcing of local nonprofits. Since opening their first store in 2013, Many Hands has been able to raise over $30,000 benefitting local Iowan nonprofits such as LIFE 107.1, Love Spencer, Mid-American Equine Breeders Association, Single Moms Night Out, Wildwood Hills Ranch, Central Iowa Shelter Services, MOPS, Spencer Special Olympics, and many more. They have also donated over $15,000 worth of vouchers for families in need.
Lastly, the store will provide opportunities for local residents to connect in service for their communities. Last year, the Grimes store had over 900 volunteers serve to benefit those in need. Those volunteer roles include clothing sorters, cashiers, cleaners, decorators, and hands-on types of people. Brand believes this is the perfect place for those looking for purpose-filled volunteer experiences and a great way to give back.
“Volunteers and donations of items are the heartbeats of our stores. We can fulfill our vision of ‘transforming together’ when we give of our gifts and talents to one another. Everyone has a gift to give to someone else. It is our desire that this store is a place where people can give from their areas of strength with love and compassion for others to receive those gifts with meaning and purpose. It has been amazing to see this happening in Grimes and Spencer with our previous stores,” added Brand.
For more information about Many Hands Thrift Market or volunteer opportunities as they become available, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Van Gent, at evangent@mh4h.org or visit www.manyhandsthrift.com.
About Many Hands:
Many Hands is an Iowa-based nonprofit creating local and global life-transformation by strengthening families. Established in 2008, the organization focuses on six key areas for transformation, including education, agronomy, leadership development, safe homes, medical assistance, and economic development. Each year, the organization reaches at least 25,000 people through their Haitian operations, IMPACT trips, and Many Hands Thrift Markets located in Grimes, Iowa and Spencer, Iowa.
Many Hands is called to transform together, to be love in action, in a broken world.