New 2 You

If you’ve ever been to New 2 You on a Wednesday in the past 21 years, you’ve likely seen Dot and Henry. This couple has been volunteering on Wednesdays since we first opened in 2001, and they’ve played such a valuable role in our community!

Henry started as the Wednesday Day Manager, preparing the store to open at 10:00 a.m., filling manager responsibilities throughout the day, and then closing the store at 4:00 p.m. He loved helping customers find furniture that best fit their needs, which he still does today. Dot started as a cashier, moved to pricing housewares, and is most known in our community for always sorting, preparing, and pricing the socks. If you get lucky, you might see her decorated socks box labeled “Dot’s Sox.”

Dot and Henry are a sweet couple who are quite similar to each other and love being in one another’s company. They both grew up on farms in northern Michigan and started dating in high school. After they got married and Henry returned from the army after being drafted, they moved to Grand Rapids, where Henry got a job with Eikenhout and Sons, a distinguished distributor of roofing and building materials based in Michigan. Henry later became the owner of the business, and one of his three children is now the president. Along with their three children, Dot and Henry have nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, whom they love dearly.

Dot and Henry have been long-time supporters of Grand Rapids Christian Schools since sending their kids to the schools years ago. When they heard about plans to open New 2 You to support the school district, they came to the first meeting to hear more. When recalling what New 2 You was like in the beginning, Dot remembers a mountain of donated clothing that the store couldn’t handle. Gradually, managers and volunteers created systems, and key people brought their skills and expertise to help New 2 You grow into the blossoming store it is today. Dot and Henry have been significant contributors to that growth.

Dot and Henry love the Lord, and it shows in their everyday interactions with volunteers and customers. Each Wednesday morning, Dot reads a passage from the Bible that she feels the Spirit leading her to share. Over the course of a few months, she asked each Wednesday morning volunteer or staff member to share their favorite passage with her, which she would read during a later week. This is one of the ways she’s become true friends with those she volunteers alongside. “We’re like a family,” Dot shares.

Thank you, Dot and Henry, for 21 years of dedication and friendship! You both mean so much to us!