The hangar at the Dixie Wing Historical Air Power Facility was filled with a very special group of people last Friday as the Clothes Less Traveled thrift shop honored their volunteers for the work that they do each and every day.
People of all ages and backgrounds donate their time and energy to the store, which then allows the non-profit to award grants to nearly 40 community organizations each year.
Clothes Less Traveled has awarded $5.5 million to area non-profits since 1997 and over $850,000 in the past year. Those grants, to groups such as Fayette Samaritans, Midwest Food Bank, Fayette Senior Services, Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Cancer Wellness program and Fayette County Special Olympics, were able to significantly impact the lives of thousands of people in and around Fayette County.
The Clothes Less Traveled Thrift Shop was founded in 1997 by MaryAnn Cox and Joan Velsmid. What started in a little single storefront on Huddleston Road has grown to more than 25,000 square feet off of Ga. Highway 74. There are hundreds of volunteers who donate time each month to the organization and there are now 33 staff members working full or part time each week.
While there have been many changes for the organization over the last 20 years, there has been one constant: the leadership of Velsmid. On Friday night she, along with several other members of the board of directors, were recognized for their service to the board and the organization.
Velsmid had been a volunteer board member for 21 years, serving as vice president for 10 years and president for the last 11. Other members who were recognized at the event were Chris Baran, a board member for 18 years who served as the treasurer for 10 years, Dick Allis, a board member for 12 years who wore many hats at the store, Janet McGregor Dunn, a board member for 10 years and the creator of the Clothes Less Traveled logo and brand, and Jim Kulaga, a board member for 10 years who had served as vice president.
The new president-elect of the Board of Directors for Clothes Less Traveled is the group’s former treasurer Tammy Turk. The store will continue to be managed by longtime store manager Jennie Loper and Clothes Less Traveled now has a supremely qualified executive director in Kevin Barbee. Barbee was the chief operating officer for the Society of St. Vincent DePaul Georgia and the former director of retail operations for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers.
“I’ve made many observations in my first eight weeks with Clothes Less Traveled, but what was evident to me within the first few days was that everyone associated with this organization has a caring spirit,” Barbee said in his remarks at the event. “We are changing the lives of people, not just with the grants or scholarships we award, but also for everyone who walks through our doors. That is what drives me every day.”
Although some of the focus of Friday’s event was on torches being passed, the highlight of the annual dinner is the presentation of the Heart of the Community Award, which recognizes an individual who has unselfishly given of themselves in the spirit of caring, love and concern for mankind throughout their lifetime. This year’s winner was Cindy Boron. She has volunteered with Clothes Less Traveled for two years and has donated 625 hours of her time in that span. In addition to the work she does at the store, she also has been instrumental in establishing programs for school-aged children in need.
Clothes Less Traveled is open Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m., closing at 5 p.m. every day except Thursday (7 p.m.). Although the name might suggest differently to some, the store accepts donations of more than just clothes. In fact, the store is filled with items in numerous different categories, including furniture, bedding, housewares, games, books and more. The store currently has a huge selection of Christmas decorations.
Clothes Less Traveled is always seeking donations of items and there is also a need for more volunteers. Volunteers need to be high school aged or above and be willing to donate a minimum of one shift a month of three and a half hours. If you can make that commitment, you can be at next year’s dinner when awarded grants may close in or pass $900,000 for the year.
For more information on Clothes Less Traveled, how to volunteer or how to donate items, visit clotheslesstraveled.org or phone 770-486-8517.
Pictured above are Chris Baran, Jim Kulaga, Joan Velsmid and Dick Allis. Photo/Submitted.
