New Life Thrift Shop volunteer earns Governor’s Youth Service Award
The lifeblood of any nonprofit thrift store is the dedicated group of volunteers who perform a multitude of tasks to bring the donated goods to shoppers. Without their commitment and drive, nonprofit agencies within Sussex County would not be able to assist those in need.
Among the volunteers at the New Life Thrift Shop is high school student Ava Stumpo, who was honored for her leadership this June at the Governor’s Youth Service Awards Ceremony.
Ava is homeschooled and displays exceptional leadership qualities in her volunteer work. She spends her Saturdays at New Life Thrift Shop, where she demonstrates her understanding of the organization’s mission to help people in need and give back to the community. Her creativity is a valuable asset to the volunteer team. She is responsible for pricing miscellaneous items, putting them out on the sales floor and designing displays. Ava is dedicated to her role and takes charge when new volunteers arrive, guiding them though the procedures and making them feel comfortable. She volunteers throughout the year, with 280 hours served in 2022. She is an excellent role model to the other students who come in to perform community service, quickly establishing relationships with them and showing them the ropes.
The New Life Thrift Shop is operated by the Lewes Rehoboth Association of Congregations, a community congregation-based organization that supports nonprofit partners serving the most vulnerable people within the Cape Henlopen School District. Its mission is to prevent and break the cycles of addiction, homelessness, incarceration and hopelessness by providing help to local individuals and families, and contributing to community programs.
Funds raised through operation of the New Life Thrift Shop allow LRAC to invest in programs that effectively address the needs of those at risk. Through the shop’s 2022 revenues, LRAC provided nearly $508,000 in major support to local nonprofit agencies serving the most vulnerable in area communities. In just the first six months of 2023, an additional $510,000 has been distributed.
Services provided by these nonprofits include: emergency assistance with expenses such as utility bills, rent, auto repairs, medicine and other needs; a baby pantry providing baby food, formula, books and diapers; maintaining a job center to offer assistance with resume writing, skills development and financial planning for those seeking employment; hosting a day center program providing respite, showers, laundry, food and counseling to the homeless; assisting victims of domestic abuse; providing resources for at-risk youth; addressing homelessness; feeding the hungry; mentoring and assisting recently released prisoners; education; mentoring incarcerated persons; funding fire departments; giving individual attention and guidance, food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need; providing Thanksgiving food baskets, school supply backpacks and clothing for children; and hosting friendship dinners for temporary foreign workers.
Andrea Caswell, New Life Thrift Shop manager, said, “This influx of over $1 million from LRAC into effective programs of local nonprofits has a profound impact on addressing community needs, and would not be possible without dedicated and hardworking volunteers such as Ava.”
The New Life Thrift Shop is located at 34686 Jiffy Way Lewes, behind Jiffy Lube. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
