Charities change lives across county
The efforts of Faith, Hope and Charity (FHC) Recycle Store have raised crucial money for nonprofits across Gilmer County.
This year, FHC and other nonprofits celebrated the raising of more than $800,000 through the recycle store.
Unlike a charity thrift store, FHC both resells items and recycles them for other uses. Their commitment to efficiency allows them to better serve the community.
This money includes grants for nonprofits, charity toward needs for families and local individuals and scholarships.
“That gives you the idea that we’re turning the money right back around and putting it right back into the community,” FHC Store Manager Jan Day said.
This figure represents a roughly $50,000 increase compared to last year.
“We’re seeing a general increase in what we’re giving away, because the needs, especially within this past year, have been a lot greater,” she said.
Rising gasoline and food prices due to President Donald Trump’s war with Iran have impacted families across the country.
It’s likely that the need for food, power bills and rent will continue until the economy improves.
“Our benevolence office especially is seeing more of a need there,” she said.
Since 2020, FHC has raised more than $3 million.
“If it weren’t for these people that are in the community that are making donations to us, we would not exist,” Day said.
For many other nonprofits across the county, this fact is great news.
Faith, Hope and Charity is a beating heart, circulating vital resources to nonprofits across the county.
Just a few of the nonprofits that receive money from Faith Hope and Charity include the Boys and Girls Club, the Christian Learning Center, 4H, Isaiah House, the Gilmer Community Food Pantry, Redemption Outreach and Kids Ferst.
Between them, these nonprofits do everything from feeding those in need, helping prisoners return to society, advocating for children in the court system, helping women in need, helping Gilmer animals and more.
Nonprofits are extremely efficient with their money, Day said. They work together to give Gilmer County the best help it can get.
“We’re really good at networking up here,” she said.
“Our goal is to make sure that every family in this community and every organization that we work with realizes that we want to help,” she said. “We know who to call when we need them.”
One way the community can help FHC is by keeping the store clean and tidy when they shop there.
“People don’t always understand that we are volunteers,” Day said. “We don’t have enough volunteers to walk the floor and do that.”
She thanked the volunteers who support Faith, Hope and Charity, as well as the donors and customers who provide the group with money.
“This is a giving community, a very caring community, and Faith, Hope and Charity is just pleased to be a part of that,” Day said.