Hope Is A Feeling Of Expectation That Something Good Will Happen.



These mums are named "Hope"

On the last Saturday of each month, from ten until noon, the Woodycrest Methodist Church, provides hope to those who shop for free during these two hours in the Free-For-All shop. All items are donated to the church and given out free to the shoppers. The items include clothing for the whole family, kitchen items, books, videos, toys, pictures, and so much more. Faithful volunteers sort and place the items in the appropriate rooms in the shop which is located in the basement of the church. Each family that visits is given a very large, heavy-duty, plastic bag to hold their selections. Our volunteers wrap glass and breakables in newspaper. The men volunteers help the ladies carry their heavy treasures up the stairs and to their cars.

Free-For-All shop view

Each month, the church also gives each family a bag with new items in it. It's always a surprise. The shoppers have no idea what's in the bags until they open them. One month it was shampoo, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. This Saturday, it was a six-inch mum with yellow and gold colored buds. There were a few mums left so the volunteers took them home.

Another Free-For-All Shop View

Last evening, after I planted my pot of mums at the corner of my shed, I sat back in my lawn chair and reflected on how beautiful the yellow and gold colors were, and then I thought back on two hours I spent at the Free-For-All shop in the morning. People who shopped that morning were all hopeful they would find things they needed. Volunteers were hopeful they could provide inspiration and hope to all who shopped.  "Hope" seemed the perfect name to give my mums.