THRIFT STORE

 “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)

 Message from the Thrift Store Manager

I would like to thank everyone who donates to the Mission and to the Thrift Store. God bless you. We not only help the Rescue Mission, but we help the community by offering low prices and filling a gap to serve the needs of local neighborhoods.
 
Visit us on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and purchase a wide selection of $1 items.
 
Thank you for donating furniture, clothing and household items for those who cannot afford something new. Thrift Store proceeds are used to assist the homeless through programs at the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission. Please continue donating your unneeded items – they may be treasures to someone else.
 
We pick up donations six days a week. Call us at 318.621.9613.
 
Thank you,
 

Ken Walling

Thrift Store Manager

 

A True Story – The Thrift Store Organ

 

One afternoon, the wonderful sounds of “How Great Thou Art,” came from outside my office door. Immediately I went outside and told the lady playing not to stop. It sounded so nice. It was an old tube-type organ, but in pretty good shape. I put a price tag of $75 on it and there it set in the Thrift Store. Though many looked at it, and some played it, like this lady, no one bought it.

 

Walking through the store one day, a man with tears in his eyes stopped me. “My wife and I are from Lake Charles,” he said, “and we came to Shreveport to get away from Hurricane Gustav.” He couldn’t explain why they came to Shreveport, but felt God had sent him this way for a reason. While staying at the LSUS shelter, someone told him about the Thrift Store. He had visited and seen the organ, played it, then returned to his wife at the LSUS shelter.

 

“My wife probably thought I wrecked the truck,” he said, “because of the tears in my eyes. I told her I knew why God had sent us to Shreveport. It was for that organ.”

 

After starting a church in Lake Charles, a fire had destroyed their organ on their first Sunday. He knew when he saw it that this organ was meant to be in his church.“Mr. Ken, we only have $60 and enough money to get back home. Is there anything you can do for me?”

 

“Give Mrs. Willie our cashier the $60 and it’s yours,” I said.

 

He cried as we loaded it very carefully on a dolly and carried it to his truck. As we approached the truck, his wife got out and dropped to her knees praising God. After loading it, she gave me a hug. Then we all praised God in front of the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission for that little organ. People going into the store probably thought we were crazy, but we didn’t care.

 

At the Rescue Mission, we get to see little miracles happen right in front of our eyes all the time.                                                                 

                                                                                                                                       ---Ken Walling