Paying it Forward

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Story Published: May 31, 2009 at 5:51 PM PST

By Stacy Lilienthal

The need is great, but so is the help. That's the approach from a Grandview charity as more people seek their services.

"My fiance and I have been in and out of work, mine being pregnant and just having a child, and then him just finding work around here." says Tara Collins. She says she's turned to the One-Stop Thrift Shop and Community Connection to help get her daughters clothing and car seats. "As he gets started working and before he gets that first paycheck, we've had a couple tight spots." says Collins.

"I'd say from the short time we've been doing it, I can't even count how many people have come." Community Connection and One-Stop Thrift Shop Co-Owner Chelsey Mortimore says they've seen so many people need help now, they decided to do things a little differently. Before you can get free clothing, or money for food or medications, you first have to help someone else. "If someone really needs something, they'll go out and help a community member for a couple hours to earn it." Mortimore says. People clean up graffiti, help seniors with yard work or home repair, donate items to the thrift shop, and more.

James McGuire volunteered some hours and donated items so his girlfriend could get money to pay for her prescriptions. "She recently ran out of diabetic medication and we would have never been able to afford it without the help of these wonderful and generous people here."

"Realizing some people can't afford anything, they even have a free room for people to take whatever they need." reports Stacy Lilienthal. That's where Collins found clothes. And she paid it forward by dropping off some old clothes in return.

The program makes money by selling stuff at their thrift shop. The one stop thrift shop is on West 2nd street in Grandview, if you'd like to help or need help.

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