Heart and Hands
A HISTORY OF HEARTS AND HANDS
by Ursula Allen with edits by Samantha Lazazzera
Lisa Stevenson has always been a friend of thrift shops. For her they combine the rewards of frugality with the excitement of discovering the occasional otherwise unaffordable item, and they still give the customers the dignity of purchasing what they choose with their own money.
After wishing for a thrift shop in Meredith for years, Lisa decided to pursue her vision. With the help of friends she established a board of directors for Meredith and Community Thrift Shop which opened in town on Water Street in 2006.
The venture turned out to be very successful. Lisa's shop became a valued part of the community but it involved a great deal of labor, and the paperwork involved to maintain the non-profit status was onerous. So after ten years Lisa decided to close the shop.
Tom Witham, parishioner of Trinity Episcopal Church and Robin Thomas Soller, Pastor of Trinity, fully understood that Lisa could not bear the burden of the shop as she had done, but they hoped to continue Lisa's good work by spreading the burden on many shoulders. Trinity alone was too small to carry on, but Father Dennis of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Pastor Russ of First Congregational Church and Pastor Robin of Trinity Church had for years cooperated in giving towards the needs of the community. The churches had also shared in occasional worship services, so their relationship could be the sound basis for a mutual enterprise.
Members of the three churches met to discuss the challenges they would be facing. Concerns were plentiful, but were much reduced when Lisa supported the new venture by sharing her years of experience and agreed to function as part time director. The search for the new space was guided by Chris Kelly, a local realtor and member of St Charles Church who gave us the confidence to sign a five year lease on our present space at 8 Maple Street, Suite 4 in Meredith. All fears that the space was too large were laid to rest as soon as the donations and the customers started coming in.
A board of directors was established. It consists of three representatives from each of the parishes. Each member serves an initial three year term that can be extended for an additional term, serving up to six years. The shop ran for many years under the fiscal umbrella of the (Episcopal) Diocese of New Hampshire. After tremendous success, we are proud to announce our own 501c3 status as of 2024.
The search for a name came to a happy end when a wise person suggested that we were to be the heart and hands of Jesus. This comment inspired the name of Hearts and Hands as well as our mission statement:
Our mission is to be the heart and hands of Jesus through the sale of affordable items, and to invest all profits into local charities thereby benefiting the community. The guiding light of the mission statement has been of the highest importance to us in remaining true to our purpose.
In August 2016 we celebrated the opening of Hearts and Hands with a ribbon cutting and grateful hearts. We are all blessed every day to do the work of Jesus in our community and to enjoy the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
by Ursula Allen with edits by Samantha Lazazzera
Lisa Stevenson has always been a friend of thrift shops. For her they combine the rewards of frugality with the excitement of discovering the occasional otherwise unaffordable item, and they still give the customers the dignity of purchasing what they choose with their own money.
After wishing for a thrift shop in Meredith for years, Lisa decided to pursue her vision. With the help of friends she established a board of directors for Meredith and Community Thrift Shop which opened in town on Water Street in 2006.
The venture turned out to be very successful. Lisa's shop became a valued part of the community but it involved a great deal of labor, and the paperwork involved to maintain the non-profit status was onerous. So after ten years Lisa decided to close the shop.
Tom Witham, parishioner of Trinity Episcopal Church and Robin Thomas Soller, Pastor of Trinity, fully understood that Lisa could not bear the burden of the shop as she had done, but they hoped to continue Lisa's good work by spreading the burden on many shoulders. Trinity alone was too small to carry on, but Father Dennis of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Pastor Russ of First Congregational Church and Pastor Robin of Trinity Church had for years cooperated in giving towards the needs of the community. The churches had also shared in occasional worship services, so their relationship could be the sound basis for a mutual enterprise.
Members of the three churches met to discuss the challenges they would be facing. Concerns were plentiful, but were much reduced when Lisa supported the new venture by sharing her years of experience and agreed to function as part time director. The search for the new space was guided by Chris Kelly, a local realtor and member of St Charles Church who gave us the confidence to sign a five year lease on our present space at 8 Maple Street, Suite 4 in Meredith. All fears that the space was too large were laid to rest as soon as the donations and the customers started coming in.
A board of directors was established. It consists of three representatives from each of the parishes. Each member serves an initial three year term that can be extended for an additional term, serving up to six years. The shop ran for many years under the fiscal umbrella of the (Episcopal) Diocese of New Hampshire. After tremendous success, we are proud to announce our own 501c3 status as of 2024.
The search for a name came to a happy end when a wise person suggested that we were to be the heart and hands of Jesus. This comment inspired the name of Hearts and Hands as well as our mission statement:
Our mission is to be the heart and hands of Jesus through the sale of affordable items, and to invest all profits into local charities thereby benefiting the community. The guiding light of the mission statement has been of the highest importance to us in remaining true to our purpose.
In August 2016 we celebrated the opening of Hearts and Hands with a ribbon cutting and grateful hearts. We are all blessed every day to do the work of Jesus in our community and to enjoy the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ.