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2-Year Anniversary for The Clothing Closet
The Clothing Closet has stayed true to its mission of serving the community with the love of Jesus Christ, offering clothing free of charge to those in need while providing a lovely boutique shopping environment for all. We celebrate its 2-year anniversary this month, having opened at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Under the loving leadership of our Store Manager, Diane, these past two years, we have:
- provided 379 individuals with free clothing, shoes, and accessories
- offered Coat Vouchers to redeem for our partners who attended CFO
- offered over 2,500 volunteer hours to members of our community, including 10 Individuals with disabilities through STAFF and Work Transition Programs
- employed 1 individual with a disability with plans for additional hires
- supported the ladies in TOL’s Transitional Housing Program with private shopping events and support
- pursued our value of Community through participation in town events and offering our own, such as Story Time, Teacher Appreciation Week & Mother’s Day Shopping Nights
- created countless relationships by providing a place to stop in and sit, talk, and pray with those who needed a friend
We are Clothing with a Cause! Mathew 25:36: “I needed clothes, and you clothed me.”
We are excited about what is to come for The Clothing Closet.
**Click on the image above to watch a short video highlighting our two years! |
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Sterling Center News
Our Sterling team is actively reaching out to the eastern Loudoun Community with Compassion and pursuing new Relationships!
Recently, Lifeskills Director, Philip Martin, hosted a gathering of current Afghan partners and local Afghan families providing them with an opportunity to network, share needs and concerns, make new friends, and to offer them a Hand Up.
The English Classes (ESOL) ministry kicked off a new summer class on June 1st with 22 very eager students! Additional classes will be offered this fall to coincide with the public school calendar.
In addition, the Community Kitchen ministry made a location change several weeks ago from Word of Life International Church to the brand new Sterling Community Center. The new venue, located in the heart of Sterling, is more accessible to community members and pedestrian traffic. We are now serving an average of 30 individuals with new Partners joining weekly!
Finally, Sterling will be launching its first community Bible Study later this month. We are excited to see how God leads in the Sterling and Ashburn area. |
GO FUND THEM!
SimplyBe Coffee is Coffee with a Cause – employing amazing individuals with a special need or a disability.
As a nonprofit under the umbrella of Tree of Life Ministries, we rely on grants and incredible donors to bridge the gap between our coffee sales and our operating costs. Having narrowly missed out on a sizeable grant this year, that gap is real and we need your help to sustain SimplyBe Coffee in Leesburg.
We have launched a campaign to raise $100,000. Every dollar donated will help keep our staff members employed. |
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Best of Loudoun Contest
For over 20 years, the Best of Loudoun has provided the community an opportunity to highlight favorite local businesses, organizations, people and attractions. We are thrilled that our first Gospel enterprise, The Clothing Closet, was voted “Best” for Consignment/Thrift Shops and Tree of Life Ministries was a finalist for Nonprofit/Civic Support Organizations!
THANK YOU to all of our faithful friends and supporters in the community! |
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Save the Dates!
VIP sessions: Purcellville – 7/16, Leesburg – 7/28, Sterling – 7/28
Clothing & Backpack Giveaway, Leesburg, 8/20
Annual Clothing & Furniture Giveaway, Purcellville – 8/27
TopGolf Fundraiser – 9/5
Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser – 10/4
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I have been studying the effect of freewill offerings on the people of God. First introduced in Exodus, it was a voluntary offering that the people brought of their own accord. It is derived from the verb “nadab,” which helps to show that it is the Lord who “makes willing.”
A freewill offering was not to fulfill a vow or one that was required. It was an offering given from one’s free will, allowing them to be blessed by the act of giving to the Lord.
Psalm 119:108 – Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me your judgments.
I will learn from the Lord through my freewill offerings.
Ezra 8:28 – And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, the articles are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers.”
Freewill offerings teach me about God’s holiness. The offerings are holy, as I am holy to the Lord.
Deut. 16:10 – Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you.
The Freewill offering is to be given from the abundance that the Lord has blessed me with.
As we look to the Lord today, let us consider what freewill offering we are willing to sacrifice and offer to Him. May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne |
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