Escapees November-December 2022

care

Thrift n’ Gift Pro fi ts CARE By DOLORES SPENCER #57312, CARE Volunteer

In 2015, the year it opened, TnG pro fi ts were $25,000. In 2020, even though they closed for three months due to the covid-19 pandemic, TnG earned $34,000. In 2021, the pro fi ts totaled $59,000, a huge increase due to large sales such as a trailer. All monies TnG earns go directly to CARE and help cover the facility’s operating expenses. In addition to monies, TnG also passes on donations such as walkers, wheelchairs and medical equipment to the facility. Recently, they contributed an industrial air fi lter, valued at $10,000. The CARE kitchen is also a recipient of TnG donations. TnG does community outreach in many ways. They have often donated or provided, at a reduced price, clothing, dishes and other goods to victims of fi re, fl ood and other personal disasters. They work with the homeless, military, churches and even donate supplies, such as unsold blankets, to the SPCA. Currently, 26 volunteers work at TnG, some once a week, some once a month, but after they start volunteering, folks are hooked and become regulars. All TnG volunteers receive a $5 certi fi cate for every half day they work which is redeemable for purchases in the thrift store. TnG also gives certi fi cates to CARE residents as gifts at Easter, Christmas and birthdays. The thrift store has become enormously popular with residents as well as the larger Livingston community and has outgrown its current facility, even after adding three buildings to the original. Consequently, construc tion began this summer on a new building which will

Escapees CARE, the vision of Kay Peterson (co-founder of Escapees), was founded in 1992 as a place for RVers to live when they needed or wanted to be o ff the road. Locat ed within the Escapees RV Park in Living ston, Texas, CARE purchased the 20 acres on which the facility was built and is an inde pendent 501(c)3 non-pro fi t organization. D onations provide a signi fi cant contribution for the operations of CARE, and the fund-raising efforts by residents, originally starting as a three-day yard sale twice a year and a small gift shop, had now blossomed into a full- fl edged thrift store. In 2015, residents gathered to discuss the possibility of starting a thrift store with its own building, and Rainbow's End resident, Marge Schinke #65543, subsequently made a proposal to the Care Board. The Board approved the proposal, and with funds provided by the Marion & Art Bourke Estate, the fi rst building was purchased as well as a small building for a furniture showroom. The Thrift 'n Gift (TnG) shop opened in December 2015. The receiving room originally consisted of one table in the back of the room, and donations were stored in a little trailer with clothes and other items brought up as they were needed. With TnG pro fi ts, enough funds became available to add an addition for receiving.

Escapees CARE Needs Volunteers and Donations! square feet of retail space to TnG, plans also include expansion of the facilities for laundry and of fi ces. Volunteers receive a free site, three meals per day, free WiFi in our center and more. Volunteers give 28/36 hours per week for four weeks, driving res idents and taking phone calls. Donations (via www. paypal.com/givingfund, www.iGive.com, www.escap ees.com/store, or through a bequest in your will) all help support Escapees CARE. For further details, call 936-327-4256, e-mail carefd@escapees.com, 155 Care Center Dr, Livingston, TX 77351 or visit www.escapeescare.org | be called the Sandy Elkan Memorial Building. In addition to adding 1,000

Construction began this summer on a new building which will be called the Sandy Elkan Memorial Building. PHOTO BY DOLORES SPENCER #57312, CARE VOLUNTEER.

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ESCAPEES Magazine November/December 2022