Shop-at-the-Top volunteers honored for their service

Friday, April 1, Clear Waters Life Center honored its Shop-at-the-Top volunteers.  Shop-at-the-Top opened in 2006 with the idea of making “a couple hundred dollars a month to help with utilities”.  One of our board members named it because it was on the top floor of CWLC-Clearbrook.  The shop has expanded from two sales rooms and one sorting room, to four sales rooms, plus the hallway, and three sorting/storage rooms.  Our shopping area totals over 6000 square feet 

From the beginning Shop-at-the-Top was to be more than just an indoor garage sale.  The desire was and is for customers to feel welcome and be sure that they were getting good quality items at affordable prices.  The donations of clothing, shoes, housewares, toys, and other treasures continues to grow.  It is truly amazing what people give away!  We are blessed to receive, and in turn bless our customers with good quality, gently used merchandise.  

Shop-at-the-Top is grateful for the dedicated volunteers who make it possible.  Nine women volunteer on a weekly basis; usually working as a team to cover each of our weekdays, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  One of those volunteers, Betty Malm, has served faithfully for 11 years! Several others are not far behind her in years of service. At least 16 additional volunteers cover the shop on Saturdays or as substitutes when our regular weekday volunteers need to be gone.  Volunteers range in age from 70+ to 9 year-olds with mother-daughter and grandmother-granddaughter teams on Saturdays.  Many put in additional hours helping with sorting, hanging, and tagging.

Clear Waters Life Center exists “as a faith-based community of people providing a place to impart hope and enrich the lives individuals and families, Shop-at-the-Top’s volunteers are very much a part of the mission, as both givers and receivers.  Strong, lasting friendships are built through Shop-at-the-Top.  “Being able to volunteer at Shop-at-the-Top is ‘everything’ to me; I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t come.” I feel like I belong here.” “I have purpose.” “It gives me a break.” These are just some of the comments heard from our volunteers. Thank you!  We appreciate you!