The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Consider helping the less fortunate this winter

Wittenberg latest to close due to Level 2 snow emergency
Updated 27 min. ago
Girls Gone Wild coming back to Springfield
3:55 p.m.
Millions awarded to update area water, sewer systems
3:54 p.m.
Paid days off for county employees an issue for commissioners
1:13 p.m.
Grand jury indicts 21
12:05 p.m.
> More headlines

6:11 PM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I was sorting through all of my how-to-save-money-for-the-holidays ideas last week when a friend called to pass along a column suggestion from his mother, Maxine.

She’s a spunky, energetic 80-something who thought I needed to know about her most recent find, and she was right.

Maxine was all jazzed up about the Open Hands Free Store, 1131 Sunset Ave., so I stopped in and met Executive Director Sherri Blackwell, who is also the pastor at Central United Methodist Church.

The store, a non-profit organization, provides free material goods and food to Clark County residents in need.

Now I know this particular column isn’t about saving money, but what if you didn’t have any money to budget? While that may seem like a far-out statement for most of us, even thought our money may be tight, it’s an unfortunate reality for many living in Clark County.

“I’m discovering more and more that some people truly have nothing. We’ve seen a dramatic increase in people with the economy, and lots of people who are embarrassed because they never thought they’d be in a situation to need to come in,” Blackwell told me.

So, as you cull through old winter coats, bedding and Christmas tree ornaments, consider donating them to Open Hands because, as Blackwell reminded me, even stores like Walmart and Goodwill are out of reach if you don’t have any money.

The store is in constant need of clothing and supplies for babies, children and men. Household linens and pots and pans also fly off their shelves.

There is a limit as to how much visitors can take “to be sure we can help as many people as we can,” Blackwell said, and identification must be presented to help prevent fraud.

Open Hands is the cooperative effort of eight local United Methodist churches funded in part by a grant from the Miami Valley District of West Ohio Conference of United Methodist Churches.

Hours are Tuesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.

Blackwell said volunteers and donations of food, goods or cash are always welcome; the store is open Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for donations only.

One philosophy behind Open Hands is to offer dignity along with material help. “If we can take care of the physical needs, then we can take care of the other stuff. A community is growing out of this and that’s exactly what we’d hoped,” Blackwell said.

Next time you go to the grocery and see canned goods on sale 10 for $10 or find a heck of a deal on winter hats and gloves, buy a little extra and drop it off. Sometimes the best use of our money is using it do something good for someone else.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or elroberts@coxohio.com.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Hell that's half of Clark county. Can't do it.

overtapped
11:17 AM, 11/18/2009

REPORT ABUSE

My family is having a rough time too, this year. Part of us are unemployed..and we are watching our pennies. However, I realize there are those who REALLY have it bad. It truly feels good to help those who have nothing through no fault of their own.

Will do what I can
6:53 PM, 11/17/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.