Service is at the heart of who we are at Arise Homes. One way we live out this core value is by regularly organizing employee service days—dedicated times when our team steps away from the jobsite to give back to our community together.
Last week, Arise employees hung up our hard hats (or laptops, in some cases), rolled up our sleeves, and spent a morning sorting through crate after crate of books destined for the shelves of Adelante Thrift. The thrift store is a key part of Mission Adelante, a local ministry dedicated to serving immigrants and refugees. Not only does the store meet a vital need in the community by making clothes, household goods, and other essentials available at a low cost – proceeds from the store directly support Mission Adelante’s work, which is focused on “loving people from all places” through various ministry programs. We had the pleasure of working alongside Lori Gossenauer, the Partner Engagement Director, to assist with the organizational work behind the scenes. Our team helped with the sorting and organizing incoming donations. Specifically, we focused on processing and sorting both books and earrings.
We flew through multiples gallon bags full of earrings and ten boxes of books, allowing the team at Adelante to get them right out onto the shelf for customers to browse through.
Leading with Sustainability and Stewardship
One of Adelante Thrift’s areas of focus is sustainability. In a region with a significant number of landfills (61 in Kansas and 106 in Missouri), reducing waste is critical. By giving new purpose to donated goods, Adelante Thrift champions this cause. Shopping there isn’t just about finding a bargain; it’s an act of sustainability that keeps items out of landfills and reduces the need for new manufacturing resources.
Their commitment extends even to unsold items. Adelante Thrift maintains a robust recycling program, partnering with other local companies to reuse or recycle goods. They even recycle clothing into materials like home insulation, ensuring that items “still have a use and still have a purpose”.
Serving at Adelante Thrift was a powerful experience that allowed the Arise Homes team to contribute to the community in a tangible way. It was an honor to support a local organization that so powerfully integrates compassion, work ethic, and environmental responsibility. We encourage everyone in the Kansas City area to support this incredible mission by donating gently used items and, of course, by shopping at Adelante Thrift.
To learn more about their mission and how they are transforming the community, please visit www.missionadelante.org.
