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When Dave Dowson retired and moved to the Lowell area in the spring of 2022, he was looking for something meaningful to do. He wanted to help people and get […]

“If you look at why I am here…you just feel it,” Marilyn, Flat River Outreach Ministries (FROM) volunteer, shared. At 92 years young, Marilyn is one of our oldest and […]

After retiring in 2009, Kathy discovered FROM through a church bulletin and began volunteering as a cashier in 2010. What started as one day a week quickly grew into something […]

When Mindy’s kids left for college, the house felt a little quieter—for years, her time had been spent volunteering through the schools and staying deeply involved in her children’s world. […]

Sometimes the path to volunteering starts with something simple. For Susan, it began with a love of treasure hunting at Treasures Thrift Store. After filling out a volunteer form, she […]

Many volunteers come to FROM through a friend, and for Amy Bell, that friend was former board member Annie Link. Annie’s passion for the mission inspired Amy to start as […]

“Being able to give our time and care reminds us that even small acts can make a big difference,” say Paul and Laura V., who have been sharing their hearts […]

Val David has been a devoted volunteer at FROM for over a decade, going way back to when FROM was on Main Street. In 2015, her husband was diagnosed with […]

Cheryl Clark has been volunteering at FROM for more than a decade, closer to 12 years! After retiring from full-time work, a friend from church invited her to help with […]

Jenny caught the “thrifting bug” when her kids were little. At first, she shopped just for children’s items, but soon she began looking for treasures for herself as well. […]

Meet our rockstar Volunteer of the Month: Fulton Poelma. He’s been volunteering with FROM since August 2023, and you can usually find him making our spaces spick-and-span with a vacuum. […]

Joining as a cashier in 2023, Sandy was drawn to FROM through recommendations from friends in a grief support group. She sought both to contribute and to find a sense […]

Pat Grooters found more than a volunteer opportunity at FROM; she found a sisterhood. “All of FROM’s values fit the community; it is hard to pick one!” she says. However, […]

Imagine a friendly face, always ready to lend a hand. That’s Theresa Mundt, a true gem of Lowell, who’s been brightening lives at FROM for 25 years. Since 1998, she’s […]

Debbie Bradley’s story at FROM started with a simple potluck and a neighborly nudge. In 2019, she found herself at FROM seeking assistance for her daughter, Kristin, and quickly discovered […]

Kim and Bev are the dynamic duo behind the Teacher Supply section at Treasures Thrift Store. They curate an inviting space that keeps customers coming back. Their goal is to […]

Jayne started shopping at the FROM thrift store years ago. “I LOVE shopping at FROM,” she excitedly explains, “I’ve gone to so many thrift stores in other Michigan cities and […]

Alecia’s earliest memories of FROM were from long ago, visiting Treasures Thrift Store in its earliest days to find needs and wants. In 2012, Alecia was diagnosed with a rare […]

Now a FROM staff member, McKenzie’s first days here at FROM were as a volunteer. At an early age she and her sister would come along with her grandmother, Sylvia, […]

Judy moved to Lowell in 2022 to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Right away, she started volunteering at FROM’s thrift store with her grandchildren. Judy shares, “Getting the opportunity to spend time with them doing volunteer work is so important—it’s a real joy!” Over the past two years, Judy has spent over 300 hours sorting donations! Judy loves FROM because when you volunteer or donate, it’s helping people right in the community. She especially loves how FROM