New 2 You

Today we are celebrating the Grand Rapids Christian High School seniors, who are graduating today! We are so proud of each of the seniors, and most especially those who have chosen to work at New 2 You as part of their high school journey. Almost all of our New 2 You students are in the Grand Rapids Christian School system, which New 2 You supports.

Meet Ben, one of our fantastic backroom helpers!

Ben will be attending Hope College, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Theater. His favorite New 2 You memory has been working at the donations door and seeing the unique items that get donated. His favorite high school memory has been acting on stage with his friends—the best scene was when daffodil petals rained from above during a song in Big Fish.

 Meet Char, an excellent donations door host and cashier!

Char will be headed to Michigan State University, studying vocal performance. She has loved working in the donations door, with her favorite memory being when she was working for a couple hours on a very busy day and would’ve kept working until a volunteer ordered pizza and invited her to join for a break. To Char, these moments of friendship and community have made New 2 You one of her favorite places to be.

Meet Ellie, an all-star cashier!

Ellie has been a joy to get to know, and we’re so sad to say goodbye for now. She will be attending Calvin University studying Nursing. She has loved working with volunteers and staff members from a variety of ages and backgrounds—the volunteers have quickly become some of her favorite people. Her favorite high school memory was going to the Dominican Republic, where she got to experience a new culture. She started working at New 2 You to earn money for this trip.

Meet Megan, another top cashier and Saturday helper!

Megan will be going to Calvin University and joining the Track and Field team—wow! She’s still deciding what specifically to study, but she greatly enjoys STEM. Her favorite New 2 You memory was hanging up clothes the day before Thanksgiving with some volunteers while listening to Christmas music. She had numerous great experiences in high school, but two that stand out were from traveling. Once she went to the South with a school group for a civil rights tour, and another time, she traveled to Nicaragua with her youth group.

Meet Molly, a beloved clothing sorter, cashier, and jack-of-all-trades.

Molly will be headed to Hope College to join one of her sisters and will be studying Psychology on the Sociology track. She may also take a gap year and get her residency in California. Her favorite New 2 You memory has been getting to deeply know some of our volunteers, particularly those who join her in clothing sorting. Her favorite high school memory was cheering on the football team on Friday night games.

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!