This summer, I volunteered as a chaperone for a youth mission morning at The Place of Forsyth. It was “just” a summer serve activity—something simple the youth could do together—and chaperones were needed. I quickly raised my hand because I love watching teenagers discover new ways to serve their community. I truly believe lifelong connections to service can begin in these formative years.
Our task for the day was to sort clothing donations. But before we began, the volunteer coordinator walked us through the facility, explaining the many ministries supported by The Place. I was stunned. What begins with something as ordinary as a donated shirt or pair of jeans becomes part of a much bigger story.
I’ve sorted clothes for thrift stores before, but I never made the connection. We donate gently used clothing, and sometimes we help sort it—but then what? I had always assumed thrift stores mainly help those who can’t afford department-store prices. But that’s not the whole picture. Many thrift shoppers simply enjoy bargain hunting. And yet, through those sales, something remarkable happens:
Ninety-two cents of every dollar earned at The Place’s thrift store goes directly into their ministries.
That means our donated clothing helps fund an incredible range of services:
- a food pantry,
- showers and toiletries for people experiencing homelessness,
- financial assistance for essentials like utilities and housing,
- educational support and youth programs,
- and outreach for seniors.
They are caring for our community quietly, faithfully, and without fanfare.
“What begins with donated clothing becomes a lifeline for people in need.”
While giving financially is important, participating in hands-on mission work is a completely different level of engagement. It is being Jesus’s hands and feet on earth. I often walk away from these opportunities feeling like I received far more than I gave.
Serving also keeps me connected to the realities of people who struggle. I live in a bubble, and it’s easy to avoid seeing the marginalized in my day-to-day life. But Jesus commands us to care for those in need. If we don’t put ourselves in their presence, we can pretend they don’t exist or that they’re not worthy of care. Yet when you stand face-to-face with someone experiencing hardship, you see clearly: this is a child of God trying to make it in a difficult world.
I always feel closest to living into what God hopes for me when I am serving others.
