New 2 You

Meet Katie, one of our newest volunteers who is already making an impact in the New 2 You community.

Katie’s connection to New 2 You began long before she became a volunteer. When she lived north of Grand Rapids, she made it a point to stop by the store whenever she was in town. After moving to Grand Rapids a few years ago, her visits became a weekly tradition. Six weeks ago, she decided to take the next step and become a regular volunteer—and we’re so grateful she did!

With her bright personality and generous heart, Katie is always ready to lend a hand wherever she’s needed, whether that means cleaning products, dusting shelves, or organizing clothes. She loves being part of New 2 You’s mission to make Christian education more affordable while also working alongside a wonderful community of volunteers. Though she didn’t know anyone when she first started—and had no prior connection to Grand Rapids Christian Schools—she has quickly built friendships. It especially warms her heart when fellow volunteers keep an eye out for clothing and jewelry she might like!

As a Grand Rapids native, Katie has lived in various places throughout Michigan. One of her earliest jobs was with Camp Keewano, a Camp Fire Girls’ Resident Camp, where she lived on-site, serving as a lifeguard, counselor, and swim teacher. Later, she pursued a teaching degree and spent 20 years in Fremont as a 4th-grade teacher before retiring. She remains closely connected with many of her former students.

Katie leads an active life, enjoying swimming, reading, photography, and spending time with her two sons and granddaughter. “They’re the best things I’ve ever made,” she often says. She also has a unique love for lighthouses—last summer, she even served as a lighthouse keeper and hopes to do it again this year!

Giving back has always been important to Katie. She sees her spiritual gift as encouraging others, something she demonstrates both at New 2 You and beyond. Whether she’s tutoring at one of Kentwood’s many elementary schools, mentoring college students, or serving on the Kentwood Education Foundation Board, her kindness and encouragement leave a lasting impact.

Katie is such a joy to be around, and we’re so thankful she chose to be part of the New 2 You family!

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!

Meet Ben and Char, two Grand Rapids Christian High School (GRCHS) seniors who are loved and appreciated members of the New 2 You community!

Ben and Char both work at New 2 You on weekends and during school breaks. Ben is a jack-of-all-trades—whether it’s cashiering, helping customers with furniture, or preparing shoes for sale, he’s got it covered! Char enjoys working in the donation center, where she sorts incoming clothes and organizes dressing room returns. They started working at New 2 You this summer to earn money for their Winterim trips and have continued as part-time staff members since August.

Not only are Ben and Char amazing workers, but they also shine on stage as stars in GRCHS theater productions. Both had leading roles in this semester’s production of Big Fish, a highlight for Ben in his high school career. Coming up in February, they’ll be performing together in Radium Girls, marking their 13th theater production each!

Beyond theater, Ben and Char are members of GRCHS’s Chamber Chorale and the International Thespian Society. Char also competes with the highly acclaimed Forensics team, where one of her favorite memories was helping her team win 1st place at last year’s State Tournament. Ben is planning to study psychology and theater next year in college, while Char will study vocal performance.

As GRCHS students working at New 2 You, Ben and Char have a unique connection to the community. They love running into friends and teachers at the store and deepening those relationships in a new setting. They also enjoy how many volunteers share their enthusiasm for GRCHS and its theater program, making their conversations especially meaningful.

We’re so grateful to have Ben and Char as part of the New 2 You family and can’t wait to see all that they’ll accomplish. They are truly AMAZING!

Butch and Lois have found a meaningful way to stay connected to Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) through their volunteer work at New 2 You. With Butch as a friendly face at the cash register and Lois contributing her expertise in the women’s boutique clothing section, they bring light and love to the store community.

Lois is no stranger to GRCS, having dedicated 35 years as a beloved English teacher at Grand Rapids Christian High School. Even without children or grandchildren in the school system, she treasures staying involved with the mission of Christian education. After graduating from Calvin College—where she and Butch began their relationship—she started her teaching career right at GRCHS and remained there until retirement.

Meanwhile, Butch’s roots in Michigan run deep. Raised on a muck farm, he later worked as a tax assessor in Jenison. Now retired, he and Lois enjoy traveling, dining out with friends, going on daily walks together, attending CALL classes at Calvin, strolling around Frederik Meijer Gardens, and reading. 

In their retirement years, finding a way to give back is important to them, and New 2 You turned out to be the perfect fit. Lois first discovered the opportunity through a church bulletin 16 years ago. Inspired by the impact GRCS had on her students, she was eager to contribute in a new way. About eight years later, Butch joined her.

Today, Lois works alongside her good friend Diane, pricing and preparing women’s boutique clothing. She loves the camaraderie, saying, “You really come to love these people.” Butch agrees, adding, “They enrich your life and add a different dimension.” At the cash register, Butch is a warm and welcoming presence, building relationships with both volunteers and customers. Lois jokes that she can often hear him laughing with customers while she’s putting out clothes. 

Butch and Lois take great joy in knowing their efforts directly support the community and Christian education.

Thank you, Butch and Lois, for your kind hearts and unwavering dedication.