Home Business Cleaning your closet helps the Northside with donations to Boomerangs

Cleaning your closet helps the Northside with donations to Boomerangs

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Cleaning your closet helps the Northside with donations to Boomerangs
Boomerangs sells good used clothing and household items. Jenna LaMere, Boomerangs new store manager, is the friendly face overseeing the nonprofit retail store.

Donate, shop, help the community

By Lauri Lee
Northside Business Association

When thrown with skill, a boomerang soars and curves in flight in a circular path so that it returns to the thrower to be sent out again and again. The boomerang is the perfect visual imagery for how Boomerangs Resale Store works. A nonprofit, the store accepts community donations of unwanted items to resell to those who need to purchase basic items at an affordable price or to those addicted to treasure hunting at resale stores. Those who make a purchase or donate an item to Boomerangs are part of a circle of giving that fulfills the store’s mission of recycling the store’s profits back to our community. Owned by Door Creek Church, the profits from selling the donated items are given back to the Northside community through donations and grants to nonprofit organizations serving the neighborhood. Boomerangs has been making a difference in the Northside community since 2008.

It’s simple for an individual to pay it forward through the mere act of cleaning out a closet, basement or attic, or decluttering a home. Boomerangs accepts donations of good used items such as housewares and dishes, decorating accessories, couches, recliners, easy chairs, dining tables, book cases, hutches, desks and file cabinets, coffee and end tables, lamps, bedroom furniture, antique collectibles, artwork, sporting goods, crafts, toys, scarves and jewelry. High quality clothing donations are accepted for infants and children, men and women. Donations should be dropped off during store hours. If needed, donations of furniture can be picked up from your home for free. For a small charge, furniture delivery is also available.

Boomerangs depends on the generosity of volunteers to help process the merchandise donations to help keep costs down. Volunteers sort and clean donations, hang up clothing, price and sticker items, put items out for display and work the sales floor. Individuals who want to make a difference in the community and have some time each week are encouraged to consider joining this team.

Jenna LaMere came up through the ranks after starting as a volunteer with the store. When a part-time position opened up, she applied for it. As she gained experience working for the nonprofit store from the ground up, she quickly moved from assistant manager to acting manager. Effective Aug. 1, LaMere has been promoted to Boomerangs store manager.

“I found myself as a single mom of two young boys due to domestic abuse,” said LaMere. “Left with nothing, I started over by going to the Job Center for help with finding a job. When told I had to volunteer, I chose Boomerangs. Door Creek Church helped me find stable housing and get back on my feet. Now that I’m the manager, I remember where I came from. I want to pay it forward and help others who are in need.”

To become a part of the circle of giving, clean out a closet or come to volunteer to make a difference. Stop to talk with Jenna to find out how to plug in.

Boomerangs Resale Store, located at 1133 N. Sherman Ave. in the NorthGate Shopping Center, is a ministry of Door Creek Church. Hours are Tuesday–Friday from 10 am–6 pm, Saturday from 9 am–4 pm. The store is closed Sunday and Monday. The phone number is 268-0793.