New 2 You

Ten years ago, Carol was volunteering in the Junior’s Clothing department, preparing items from brands that teens would recognize from the mall. At the same time, Shari had just begun volunteering regularly in the Kids’ Clothing department. As a seasoned volunteer who had been with New 2 You since day one, Carol invited Shari to join her for lunch, and the two have been friends ever since. Today, they volunteer side by side every Tuesday morning in the Kids’ Clothing department, sorting, pricing, and merchandising. Both agree that working together makes the work even more enjoyable and rewarding.

Carol grew up in Chicago, attended Calvin University, raised two children, and spent many years working in interior design. Shari grew up in Washington, also attended Calvin, worked for Hope Network, and raised three children. Despite these common threads, they didn’t know each other before volunteering at New 2 You. Now, they’ve discovered even more shared interests: a love of gardening and traveling, deep involvement in their communities, and even the experience of having a child living in Washington. “We can commiserate about that one together,” they laugh.

Carol first learned about New 2 You and its mission 22 years ago through her church bulletin and was immediately drawn in. Though she never considered herself much of a “thrifter,” she loved the idea of raising money for Christian education while also providing the community with affordable products. From the start, she poured her talents into the store, serving on the Board of Directors, helping as a Tuesday morning Day Manager, and using her design expertise to choose paint colors, carpeting, and merchandising that brought life to the store. Over the years, she has remained a dedicated Tuesday morning volunteer and now also leads devotions before the store opens. Some of her favorite mornings are when she prepares a devotion based on a volunteer’s favorite Bible verse and then listens to their story about why it matters to them.

When Shari began volunteering, she chose to work in the Kids’ Clothing department because she had younger children at the time and knew the fashion trends. Her children were attending Grand Rapids Christian Schools, which initially connected her to New 2 You. “The school connection brought me to volunteer, but the community is what really kept me going,” Shari explains.

Now, Shari and Carol love teaming up in Kids’ Clothing. They treat it as a challenge to see how much they can accomplish in a shift—pricing items, arranging displays, and debating whether a dress looks “Christmas-y enough” for the holiday collection. And of course, there’s always laughter. “There’s always someone laughing and talking about a funny donation they got,” Carol says. Both women treasure being part of the New 2 You community, where volunteers work as a team and everyone’s unique gifts make a difference.

Their gifts extend far beyond the store. Carol leads a Bible study she began 20 years ago, and she enjoys learning new skills like line dancing and mahjong. Shari is active at her church, volunteers with Kids’ Food Basket, and takes courses through the Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL).

As the needs in the Kids’ Clothing department continue to grow, Carol, Shari, and the rest of the team would love more helping hands. If you or someone you know might be interested, please reach out! When asked how she would “sell the experience,” Shari summed it up perfectly: “You’re always going to have something to do. You’ll be busy, and if you have kids or grandkids, you get first dibs on clothes. If you like to organize and have a challenge, this is for you. And it’s a great community!”