Care & Share’s Vision Statement is To make a difference in people’s lives in the name of Christ by becoming the thrift destination of choice.

When we ponder how to execute that vision, one of the key ingredients to becoming “the” destination of choice is to provide our customers and donors a consistent, positive experience in our shoppes and donation departments.

Time and again we are reminded of this.  We receive many compliments concerning the caring attention shoppers receive from our volunteers and staff.  Or we hear from donors who are happy that items they can no longer use are being put to new good use by others.  Sometimes we receive beautiful items from donors who lost a family member and they wish for the next owner to be a good caretaker of the furniture piece, tableware, or jewelry that belonged to their loved one.

Recently, we have also received inputs from customers and donors that do not reflect positive experiences.  Potential donors who were told we have too much of certain products already.  Customers who feel they were mistreated in our shoppes or spoken down to.  Customers who overheard inappropriate conversations among team members on the retail floor criticizing other team members.  Team members who shared with customers that our prices are high.

We all need to be thoughtful when we are serving at Care & Share.  Team members, both volunteers and staff, are asked to not talk about others, or use negative or demeaning remarks, especially when on the retail floor.   Donations are the lifeblood of our organization, a potential donor should NEVER hear or receive the idea that we have enough donations!  The truth is the donation backlog is ever-evolving, what we might have a lot of today may be in short supply next month.  

There are so many positive things that we can discuss with others.  Let’s be sure that our words and actions reflect our values to the community.  Many people find Care & Share to be a welcome part of their life’s routine, and we all can play a big part in that.

Let’s renew our dedication to the vision of making Care & Share the thrift destination of choice.

Your kind words, smile, or helping hand can make a big difference in someone’s day.  Thank you for your commitment to the work of Care & Share!