Meet Jerry, the first member of the “Thursday truck crew” and a familiar face we all love to see at New 2 You.

Every Thursday morning, Jerry, John, Jeff, and Chuck gather at New 2 You to load up the store’s truck with furniture for delivery. The store manager, Andrea, provides them with a list of locations for the day, and Jerry takes the driver’s seat. Throughout the day, these men brave the weather to pick up and deliver dozens of furniture pieces. They always greet customers with smiles and enjoy the moments when they run into an old friend along the way. At lunchtime, they stop at Mr. Burger, their favorite fast-food restaurant, to share a meal and a few minutes of camaraderie. This dedicated team has been delivering furniture together for ten years.

Fifteen years ago, Jerry began volunteering at New 2 You after his wife, Jan, took on a managerial role. He already had a heart for the store through being on the Board of Directors and would come in and help as needed. At the time, a small group of volunteers handled furniture deliveries on Wednesdays, but growing demand meant they occasionally couldn’t complete all their stops in a single day. When that happened, Jerry stepped in on Thursday mornings, using his Jeep to drop off the remaining furniture. Within a few years, his friends John, Jeff, and Chuck joined him, and regular Thursday morning deliveries became part of their routine.

Jerry has always enjoyed connecting with others, and volunteering at New 2 You is one of the many ways he expresses that now. In his earlier years, after graduating from Grand Rapids Christian High School, he got a degree from Calvin College in social work with the dream of serving people through close interaction. God had the same vision of service for Jerry but a different method of getting there. Through a family connection, he began working at Custom Printers and, by age 30, became the business owner. Later, his brother Frank (who is currently a New 2 You volunteer and board member) joined as a partner, and together they grew the company to over 75 employees by the time Jerry retired. Throughout his career, he prioritized a family-oriented workplace, caring deeply for his employees.

In retirement, Jerry enjoys being part of the New 2 You delivery and pick-up team because it gives him the opportunity to help customers. During their rounds, he gets to see the excitement of customers receiving their newly purchased furniture and the relief of those donating, knowing their items will be put to good use.

Beyond New 2 You, Jerry also volunteers at his church’s food pantry and cherishes time with his family, including his four children and three grandchildren, all of whom he’s incredibly proud of. Having moved from the Netherlands to Canada to New York before settling in Grand Rapids at 15, Jerry is grateful that his children had the opposite experience—growing up and staying in one place. Today, all four still live in the area.

We are incredibly grateful for Jerry’s dedication, energy, and leadership at New 2 You and in the community. Thank you, Jerry, for all you do!