When most people hear the words “thrift store” visions of a nonprofit carrying out its social mission may come to mind. Or, another reaction relates “thrift store” as a dark, dingy, crowded store filled with cheap stuff. Regardless of the thrift store’s appearance, it might attract your attention with a clearly communicated mission. A solution to Homelessness shares a common mission throughout the US. That mission is illustrated by a thrift store in Alaska.
In the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley of Alaska, the attention of homeless prevention is beginning to get more and more traction. This is largely the result of a group called the Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness. The past few years the Coalition has taken on the role as community facilitator; creating awareness, advocacy and a community passion around implementing solutions to homelessness. To implement and sustain momentum, the Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness created three taskforces: Unaccompanied Youth, Prisoner Re-Entry, and Rapid Re-Housing. These taskforces, which are filled with community leaders, will have a direct impact on the Mat-Su Valley homeless, and homeless prevention of low-income individuals and families.
Using definitions provided by “HUD” and the “McKinney Vento Act”, friends, family and neighbors are being recognized as homeless. This new awareness carried to the Mat-Su Borough School District, prompted better tracking, and identification of more students that fall into the homeless category. In 2011, the Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness led an event called Mat-Su Project Homeless Connect. That event gathered providers of services that are typically unaffordable to most of the homeless and low-income populations. Services that are taken for granted like haircuts, hot meals, or even getting an ID card were provided. The 2011 event successfully reached 129 individuals. And, a repeat of the event in 2012 provided services to 190 individuals. Although a significant increase, there is still a large population that did not get the benefit of the event’s services.
However, there is a nonprofit thrift store called “turn-A-leaf” that provides a variety of year-round resources fitting the Coalition’s passion. For decades this organization has served the Mat-Su Valley homeless and low-income populations with clothing, household and furniture items at no cost. Although the thrift store moved around the city of Wasilla several times, they continued providing needed resources and assistance, but very quietly. Turn-A-leaf thrift store is governed by a volunteer board from a parent organization called “Valley Charities, Inc.”. In an effort to continue the values of the thrift store’s founders, the board recognized that community partnerships, sharing similar interests, will reach more financially disadvantaged individuals and families. Using their experienced background, turn-A-leaf thrift store facilitated the expansion of partnerships, with several local social service agencies, to assist with homelessness. In 2011, the Valley Charities, Inc. board’s philosophy empowered turn-A-leaf thrift store to reach more than 900 individuals with over $21,000 worth of clothing, household and furniture items. Unfortunately, those individuals represented only half of the identified at-risk population in the Mat-Su Valley.
These at-risk populations just needed a little boost to bridge a financial gap, in order to delay being placed into a homeless situation. The financially challenged individuals faced several unsolicited Catch-22 situations. For example, in order to get a job you need the appropriate work clothes. To get the appropriate work clothes, you need a job to afford them. Understanding situations like this is what has set turn-A-leaf thrift store apart from other Wasilla thrift stores. Over the past several years, turn-A-leaf thrift store has become a valuable resource to Burchell High School. This high school possesses the largest at-risk unaccompanied youth population in the Mat-Su Borough School District. Turn-A-leaf thrift store contributes prom dresses, work and school clothes, microwave ovens and more to Burchell High School. Additionally, turn-A-leaf thrift store’s collaborations with organizations like the local Job Services, and American Red Cross of Mat-Su assist adults and youth with clothing and miscellaneous household items. Again, turn-A-leaf thrift store identified this resource niche several decades ago, but did so very quietly. Nonprofits have a tendency to believe that “clearly communicating” their mission will be seen as boasting. This mindset causes needed services and recognition of an organization’s importance to be overlooked by the community.
If you share the same passion as turn-A-leaf thrift store, tell us your success stories. Whether you have a story or not, if you are passionate about turn-A-leaf thrift store’s mission, your financial support is needed and appreciated. You help prevent homelessness by donating at www.valleycharities.org or visiting turn-A-leaf thrift store in Wasilla, Alaska. Remember, together we influence positive social change in our communities.
