Thrift Store Keeps Gospel Rescue Mission Alive

Bone-chilling temps mean it is time to layer on the hats, gloves and jackets. But for those who live outside in the elements, shelters are their only hope for warmth. Many find relief at the Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, a place that would not even exist without the help of a thrift store.

“A top like this runs $4 and the pants run $4,” Cece Viverette, of the Gospel Rescue Mission Thrift Store, said.

Viverette showed ABC-7?s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom all the deals and steal inside the thrift shop ? everything from furniture, to toys and clothes.

“Here we’ve got a Columbia ski jacket that has been donated,” Viverette said, holding the never-worn jacket in her hands.

Within minutes of being donated, a little girl found her new white, fur-trimmed winter jacket. The shop makes anywhere from $300 to $2,000 a day selling donated items, Viverette said. But it is all part of a much bigger cause.

“All of our proceeds here go to support the Gospel Rescue Mission, which helps with the day to day running of the Gospel Rescue Mission,” Viverette said.

Without the thrift store, the Gospel Rescue Mission would not be able to survive, Manager Charles Garcia said.

“We house the homeless and we feed 3 meals a day, and the food we have to buy most of it,? Garcia said. ?And for the housing, the bills, everything they sell at the thrift store helps to run this mission.”

During the blustery winter months, up to 100-homeless will spend their nights at the Gospel Rescue Mission, but during the day, they are on their own.

“It’s really necessary that they actually, the community, does try to help,” Kelly Wood, who has been homeless in Las Cruces for the past year, said.

And the community does try to help. Monday afternoon, Winston and Bea Boyd dropped off mattresses and stuffed animals for kids to snuggle up to. Doing their small part to help keep the shelter open.

“We’ve got it, we can do it, why not,” Winston said.

And despite tough economic times, the shelter continues to receive overwhelming quantities of donations.

?We have a very giving community,? Viverette said. ?We are blessed, very blessed.”

If you would like to donate, the Gospel Rescue Mission Thrift Store is located at 1420 S. Solano, and open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.