“Give freely without begrudging it, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and others in need.” –Deuteronomy 15:10-11
You could say that verse is Theresa Stockert’s guide to life. Since 2010, she’s been operating her secondhand store, Community Blessings, full-time and blessing the communities of Bismarck and Mandan on a daily basis. She shares more about the store and her mission.
Tell us a little history of Community Blessings.
My dream has always been to help people in need, but I used to believe that could only be done overseas. I thought that was how God was calling me, but as I looked around I saw there is so much need right around us in our own community. I may not be able to mend the world, but I can help right here in Bismarck and Mandan. From the very beginning I knew I wanted sell the donations at a reasonable price so that anyone could afford to have beautiful items, no matter their income.
How are you different from other organizations like yours?
Community Blessings believes that all people deserve nice things. We all deserve to have our practical needs met. Items like a bed, clothes, shoes, dishes, bedding, towels, and soap are items that make life a little easier. We pride ourselves with the best donations and we treat all items with respect and make sure they are cleaned and cared for. We send items to smaller communities. Making lots of money is not the goal, but we do need to pay the bills and that is the goal every week. We are not just a shop for needy families though; all are welcome. We have people from all different incomes. We not only offer material items but also fellowship and kindness.
What are your needs right now if someone would like to help?
We are always looking for donated items and volunteers.
How can people donate or get involved?
I have a crew of the best volunteers who help me run the store Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. To donate or volunteer, call me at 701-425-8837 or find us on Facebook. We are located at 312 Bis-Man Ave in Mandan, across from McDonalds. We are always accepting donations. Large furniture and kitchen and bathroom items go quickly.