New 2 You volunteers work in three-hour shifts, and for each shift, there is a manager on call. Ruth is one of our volunteer managers, taking responsibility for task distribution, responding to customer questions, helping the cashiers, and ultimately serving as a supportive presence for everyone at the store. In this role, she sees how each volunteer has their own unique job, whether it’s pricing jewelry or putting away clothes from the dressing rooms. When everyone is here, the store runs smoothly. She loves watching this teamwork in action—“It’s the puzzle of New 2 You!” as Ruth put it.

Ruth started volunteering when New 2 You reopened after COVID. A past volunteer opportunity had closed because of the pandemic, but she was still looking for a way to volunteer, so she reached out to our store manager at the time, who was also a member of her church. When she first started volunteering, Ruth worked in the linens department and then learned to be a cashier. Soon afterward, she was asked to start managing and take on the accessories department. Now, she manages Tuesday afternoons and some Saturdays and works with accessories like scarves, hats, and mittens on Thursdays.

Supporting people and students has always been important to Ruth. One of her favorite jobs in her professional life was being an aide for children with special needs at the Christian Learning Center. There, she worked one-on-one with students as they studied in school and explored the community. She even got to watch the CLC partner with Grand Rapids Christian Schools to develop the district’s inclusion program. She loves that she was able to support students then and can continue to do so now through her time volunteering, as New 2 You’s profits go to support GRCS families paying for tuition.

When Ruth volunteers, she loves bringing order to the accessories as she sorts them, organizes them, and either puts them on the sales floor or sets them aside for the next season. But more than anything, she loves the people she gets to work with. Break time is always a special time to connect with the other volunteers, particularly those who work in different corners of the store. And when she’s out working, her heart warms when she hears laughter as volunteers joke around about funny donations that came in or try to guess what strange ones might be used for. It is always a joy to be at the store!

Outside of volunteering, Ruth is blessed to spend time with her four kids, thirteen grandkids, and one great-grandkid (with a second on the way!). All but three live in the West Michigan area. She also helps with a Bible study, travels in groups, gardens, reads, bird-watches, and volunteers for Samaritan’s Carriage, an organization that offers adventures for senior residents with limited mobility.

We are so grateful for Ruth and all that she does for New 2 You and the community! She is truly a beacon of joy, hope, and Christ’s love.