Gift card program helps area agencies

When shoppers enter Welcome Home Thrift & More, located in the IronSpire Complex at 2800 N. Reading Road, Suite 430, Adamstown, they certainly notice the carefully created furniture displays directly ahead. However, if they gaze to the left, they will notice an area that is not filled with gently used merchandise. Instead, they will encounter an opportunity, through the Welcome Home Initiative, to help folks who are working to meet needs and thrive right here in Lancaster and Berks.

"Our Welcome Home Initiative is introduced to people here," said Alisha Wambolt, manager of Welcome Home, a thrift store that was originally known as Second Street and founded by Debbie Hollinger to support HOME International, which provides group homes for girls in India. "Customers can purchase a gift card to be given to help someone in need."

According to Alisha, who runs the "thrift-tique" with her husband, Don, the Welcome Home Initiative program has grown out of local missions and other organizations working together to benefit the community. "Welcome Home Thrift & More has always been a resource for local organizations that need items for clients," said Alisha. "If Good Samaritan in Ephrata needed something, they would call and ask," noted Alisha, who has been asked to pick out children's clothing and interview outfits. "That's hard (to pick out someone else's outfit), because for a job interview, you want to put your best foot forward," said Alisha, who felt those preparing for that important event should have the opportunity to choose their own clothing. "So we created this concept," noted Alisha, explaining that the Welcome Home Initiative gives people the opportunity to purchase gift cards to be given to those in need. "(The gift card) goes directly to the individual they're working with, so (that client) can come in and can pick out the things they want."

Local organizations responded positively to the idea. "Those organizations we partnered with were raving about it," recalled Alisha of the program that kicked off in January of 2023. "We don't counsel. We don't find homes for people. We don't have financial classes," said Alisha, noting that choosing donated items that are appropriate for the store and preparing them for sale is Welcome Home's specialty. "We have amazing donors and volunteers," she noted.

Among the organizations Welcome Home has connected with are Align Life Ministries; Managing Motherhood in Lititz; REAL Life Community Services in Denver; and Ephrata Area Social Services, which recently joined with Cocalico Builders of Hope and Ephrata Builders of Hope. Alisha said she appreciates that the organizations are working "together as a community to help the people who are financially struggling." She noted that area churches that were giving gift cards from department stores are now purchasing them from Welcome Home because it multiplies the benefits offered to those at home and abroad.

For individuals who want to contribute in other ways, Welcome Home keeps a "Change for Change" jar on the register counter. "People can give their change (from their purchase)," explained Alisha, who noted that all the change in the jar is added up to purchase gift cards for individuals in need. Alisha said it has been rewarding to meet those who have been helped by the program. "We had a lady recently with her two kids," she recalled. "I said I remembered her from the shelter and told her, 'This is awesome you're buying housewares.'" The woman responded that she now had her own job and her own place. "(I was) able to say, 'I recognize you' and encourage her," pointed out Alisha.

"We want to give a hand up, not just a handout," summed up Alisha. "It's been nice to come alongside these organizations, and then the community comes alongside us when they buy these gift cards to help us continue doing what we do."

Volunteers are sought to sort donations and work in the shop on a regular basis. Applications may be picked up at the store. More information may be found at http://welcomehomethrift.com.