Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Mellody.
Hi Jo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
A small group of local ladies had a vision for a resale ministry, providing low cost goods to our community and then using the profits to support local ministries. We began with bi=monthly sales and have grown to twice weekly sales, on Thursday 4 to 7 and Saturday 9 to 2. The ministry has more than quadrupled in earnings since our beginning in 2022. The overwhelming support from our community with beautiful donations, has made us a favorite local place to shop.
We are a ministry of Royse City Methodist and are housed in the church’s Family Life Center warehouse 200 Plum St. We are supported and operated by community volunteers. Beginning with just 4 volunteers we have grown to over 150 volunteers and a store manager.
We support The Crooked House ministry, American Legion veteran counseling ministry, Our Daily Bread patrons receive twice yearly vouchers, Royse City Animal Shelter, Quest Church outreach ministries, Love in Action, God’s Grace Givers, a homeless ministry, and many more through donations and goods.
We look forward to future growth and living out our vision to Serve community, Provide low-cost goods, Support missions, and Reduce – Reuse – Recycle.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Looking back I can think of two things that caused a little stress. The biggest struggle was how to convert a dirty, unfinished warehouse space into a store on a very low budget. A big shout out to Royse City business owner Lindi Kimbell, with Southern Grace, she taught us how to stage our products and was helpful with several other volunteers to help us organize departments. We continue to arrange and update to make the space organized and shopper friendly.
One of our biggest wins in organizing was getting volunteers to be department managers over the different areas. Having them focus on one area made all our departments more organized and easy to shop in.
The second biggest struggle was getting enough volunteers. We are continually looking for and training new people to be able to keep up with the volume of donations. Sorting, cleaning, pricing and staging the store. If we continue to stay open on Thursdays we are going to need more volunteers for Thursday evening.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We are a community of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, retired school people, finance, business owners, nursing, retired veterans, community relations, office manager, medical research. We are committed to supporting each other and this ministry.
I am most proud of how this eclectic group comes together each week and turns the chaos of donations into a shopping environment!
I love how our volunteers care and support one another, pray for each other, and pick us up when we are having struggles or a hard day.
Pricing:
- Clothing is $2 to $10
- Books $2
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.roysecitymethodist.life/the-good-place
- Facebook: The Good Place: Gently Used and Repurposed Goods
