1,400,000 Reasons to Support the Good Neighbors Shoppe
Sunday, March 1st, 2015 | Uncategorized | No Comments
By Tom Irmen
Why those many reasons? Because $1,400,000 is the total of cash donations given to Loudon County community organizations from 2002 through 2014 by the Good Neighbors Shoppe. Organizations such as:
» Adult Community Training
» Children’s Advocacy Center
» Good Samaritan of Loudon County
» Women’s Crisis Center
» Salvation Army
» School Grants
» Scholarships
» Lenoir City Playground Project
» Loudon County Education Foundation
» Loudon County Health Improvement Council
» Library Summer Reading Program
» Lenoir City Resource Center (Power-Up, Santa)
» Technology Access Project
» Loudon County Resource Center-Angels
» Boys and Girls Club
» Four Paws
» Star
» Smokey Mountain Service Dogs
» Young Life
» Lenoir City Graduation Project
» Sheriffs Department
» Bracelet Program
» Backpack Project
The dream of Loudon County, Tennessee residents, Gene and Roberta Burwell, the Good Neighbors Shoppe has grown from its rather sparse beginnings in 2002 to a state-of-the-art, 12,500 square foot upscale retail showroom and warehouse facility serving the needs of area residents. Located at 420 Leeper Parkway in Lenoir City, the Good Neighbors Shoppe is a model for other communities wishing to extend a helping hand to the neediest within their own communities.
“Our goal is to extend respect and dignity to every customer who walks through our doors,” said Good Neighbors Shoppe co-founder, Roberta Burwell. “Our shoppe offers our customers a convenient and pleasant shopping venue that you might expect to find in other area retail stores but at far lower prices.”
Offering apparel, shoes, housewares, collectables, and furniture at fair prices, the Good Neighbors Shoppe fulfills its mission to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
As you might imagine, to maintain an organization such as the Good Neighbors Shoppe, there are a great many moving parts. But at the heart of this non-profit resale shoppe is a team of more than 220 dedicated and tireless volunteers from throughout the area.
“I draw my inspiration from the passion of our volunteers,” said Roberta. “What people may not know about the Good Neighbors Shoppe is that no one within our organization receives a paycheck. Our goal is to return as much money as possible to our community by keeping our costs low and maintaining an efficient organization.”
Donors see their donations transformed into useful merchandise, creating an additional source of revenue that benefits a multitude of community organizations that once again help so many deserving people locally. For the most needy of neighbors, referrals through the Good Samaritan Center and Red Cross, the families may shop at no cost.
If you have the opportunity, I would encourage you to visit the Good Neighbors Shoppe in Lenoir City. You’ll admire its bright and modern retail look, including a book nook and dressing rooms that would be the envy of any upscale boutique. But in case you think the money was invested unwisely, almost all of the retail fixtures, shelving, display cabinets, and, yes, even the chandeliers were either donated items or built by area clubs and volunteers.
Restoring a person’s dignity and offering respect to those in need has the ability to provide the catalyst for hope that so many people require. The Good Neighbors Shoppe has succeeded at every level.
Good Neighbors Shoppe
420 Leeper Parkway in Lenoir City
(865) 988-9925
www.goodneighborsshoppe.org
