HEAVEN'S HIDDEN TREASURES

by
Maryann Miller

 

Billed as "A Thrift Center for Everyone" Heaven's Hidden Treasures is now open at 402 Chestnut in Winnsboro, and it is quite a remarkable store. Not necessarily because of the merchandise, although there are plenty of really nice items for sale, but how the store came about.

Darla King and Missy Long, graduates of Morgan's Mercy Mansion Rehabilitation Center for Women, needed an "aftercare" program and that need was the impetus in starting the second phase of the rehab program and the thrift store."I wanted to stay in the community," Darla said. "I wasn't ready to go out into the world on my own. I had also long had a dream of operating a woman's resale shop. So we all prayed about this and Sherrie (Hansen) finally said, 'Let's do it.'"
(L - R: Missy Long, Sherrie Hansen, Darla King)

That was back in December, and since then the ladies, with much help from the community, have renovated a number of rooms on the Chestnut Street side of the facility. Several rooms are for the residents who will be in this second phase of treatment, working at the store as part of the program. The rest of the rooms comprise the store, which has clothing, household items, jewelry, books, DVDs, CDs, furniture, sporting goods, exercise equipment, and much, much more.

Many of the items are name brands and gently used, and all are sorted and cleaned by the residents and community service workers. There are separate rooms for men's clothing and accessories, house wares, ladies apparel, and children's, and all are nicely decorated.

According to their mission statement, the goal of Heaven's Hidden Treasures "... is to provide ongoing support, bible study, prayer, and financial counseling to women who are transitioning back into the community. Every dollar donated to the store for merchandise provides the funding for this program. The bible says that if a man does not work, he does not eat. By providing a work environment for the graduates of Morgan's Mercy Mansion, the women learn to be responsible ladies and an asset to the community."

Women who complete the first 6 months of intense rehab, can come to this second phase and stay for up to two years. "We've always wanted to be able to offer this option since we started the rehab center," Sherrie said. "It's quite an abrupt adjustment from the rehab to going out on their own and not all the women are ready for that. So this gives them a place to stay and work if they want to."

Those that take this option will receive job training, a one-room apartment, and ongoing support. Because this is a faith-based program, much of that support is spiritual.

Darla is pictured here in the room, where the ladies gather every day for bible study. It is one of the three rooms on the residential wing that has been completely redone. Others are still works in progress. "Everything was donated," Darla said. "The furniture, curtains, and decorative pieces. And even some of the labor for painting, buffing the floors, and laying carpet."

There is a tangible air of excitement as Darla and her assistant, Missy, direct the other volunteers who are there to sort and clean and help set up the rest of the rooms. "It's just been an amazing journey since December," Missy said. "Everything we've done here has come through seeking the Lord and asking."

In addition to all the items donated to sell in the store or to use to set up the residences, Heaven's Hidden Treasures received a washer and dryer donated by First Presbyterian Church. ( Their next door neighbor.) Carpet was donated by Tony Frey, who owns the carpet and tile store on W. Broadway. And Jimmy Davis, of Davis Floors let them use a floor buffer.

Gerry Sutton donated a number of clothes racks and also brought a group of master gardener's to spruce up the front of the building and create a little outside oasis.

The women are thrilled at the tremendous support from the community and local businesses, and also humbled. "It is just amazing how people responded when we started asking," Darla said. "And most of the time we didn't ask people, we just asked God. For instance, one day I said we have all this pretty jewelry, but no display case for it. We prayed about that, and the next day someone called and said they had a display case they wanted to donate.

"All along it's been like that," she continued. "We received a brand new computer so we can take care of all the paperwork involved in running the store, and so many other things. We are just blessed. So blessed."

The store officially opened April 11 and shoppers are welcome Wednesday through Friday from 10am to 4pm. Saturdays it is open from 10am to 2pm.

For more information about Morgan's Mercy Rehab Center click HERE