The Grand Exchange
/New Possibilities Taking Shape!
The Grand Exchange, CFNA’s new job experience training thrift store, is under fast-paced development. Teams of volunteers and individuals are giving of their time, talents, and rummaging through their closets to support this new ministry.
Remodeling the building from the bank’s layout to that of a retail store has required time and attention to details. Deconstruction of the teller station and rebuilding it to fit the store’s new functions has taken over 100 hours of detailed work, mostly contributed by St. Paul, Des Peres’s Bill Brunkhorst. Bill sees God’s hand at work in this new ministry – “CFNA leadership created a compelling vision for preparing and outfitting this space…the shop will be a blessing to the community and has already been a blessing to all those involved.”
Saturdays in October have been live construction days. Abiding Savior’s Care Day team painted, laid bamboo wood flooring, and assembled bookshelves. Broken Together from Faith, Oakville served by painting, sanding, and cutting tile for flooring. On the 24th, CFNA hosted a ‘Drills and Skills’ event where people from many congregations gathered to build wall racks and secure them to the studs. Mirrors, lighting, and shelving were secured to the walls.
Beyond our walls, churches and schools have been hosting “Closet Cleanout” collection days. Families and individuals are sorting through their clothes and housewares for items they wish to donate to The Grand Exchange and are giving them in support of this new ministry. Dave Groerich of Christ Memorial jokes that he was “volun-told” to help haul donations from churches to CFNA, but as he has gone on three collection trips, his smile is evidence that beyond being with his family, hauling an 8x20” trailer isn’t such a bad way to spend a day. So far, Christ Memorial, St. Paul Des Peres, Pathfinder, Ascension, Epiphany, CCLS families, and Zion, Belleville have all participated in a Closet Cleanout collection.
Upon receipt of all the donations, volunteers from Messiah (St. Louis) have started to sort through the clothing and housewares. Here, both English speakers and English learners will be side by side, working together to prepare the donated merchandise to go out to the retail racks. We invite you to commit one day a week or come as able; there is always something to do.
The Grand Exchange is more than a Thrift Store. Our hope is that it will become a place where New Americans can gain entry-level job experience, develop skills, and build meaningful relationships with Christian volunteers who walk alongside them as friends and mentors, sharing Christ's love and the hope of the Gospel.
September and October have been months full of development and building anticipation for this new venture. More work needs to be done, and we anticipate opening the Store in November. Do you have a congregation, bible study group, or workplace that would like to volunteer or host a Closet Cleanout? Do you have a morning or afternoon to spend volunteering at The Grand Exchange? The doors are not yet open for business, but they are already opening for ministry! All are welcome, all skills needed, all ages can be meaningfully involved.
Contact Amy Zeigler for ways you can connect with this meaningful ministry. azeigler@cfna-stl.org
By Amy Zeigler
CFNA Community Engagement
Thrift Store – Acquisition Manager
