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One Man’s Trash, Another Man’s Blessing
March 13, 2011
One man’s trash is another man’s blessing a new Molino Thrift Store.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is a little different that many other thrift stores. Not only are the prices lower than some thrift stores (clothes begin at just 29 cents, and no used clothing is over $3), the business has a mission of reaching out to those in need and returning their profits directly to the community.
According to Manager Jason Lee, a Baptist pastor, the store returns 10 percent to churches in the community. The 10 percent figure was no accident; it was chosen because of the 10 percent tithe from the Bible.
“We reach out to the community by pricing the items as low as possible so that the person buying it receives a blessing,” Lee said. “When people are hurting, they will go to the church in their neighborhood, and we provide vouchers to churches in the area so that someone truly in need can receive they help they need in purchasing items.”
“We’ve had people come in when it was cold an ask if the could work for a few hours to earn a coat,” he said. “That’s a blessing to them.”
When an individual donates items to the Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store, the items’ price tags are marked with a code for the church of their choice. At the end of the month, each church receives 10 percent of sales with their code. The process has worked well, Lee said, with many dollars being returned to churches in Molino, Cantonment, Walnut Hill, McDavid, Flomaton, Century and surrounding areas.
Lee, who is pastor at the Oak Haven Baptist Church in Pensacola, sees the store as a mission field — an opportunity for his role as pastor to reach those that walk through the doors, and as another opportunity for local churches to reach the community.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is located on Highway 29 at Molino Road, in the former Grocery Advantage building. The store is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., except for Wednesdays when they close at 5 p.m. The store is also open 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and it is closed on Sundays.
Donations are accepted during business hours. For donations outside business hours, for more information, or to volunteer at the store, contact Lee at (850) 791-8357.
Pictured top: Pastor Jason Lee prices toys recently at the Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store. Pictured inset: The store occupies the former Grocery Advantage building on Highway 29 at Molino Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
26 Responses to “One Man’s Trash, Another Man’s Blessing”
I am SO proud of my daughter and son-in-law Irene and Jason Lee. Their ministry is in accordance with God”s. bless you both.
To me that is an example of a true Christian; helping the poor and the needy. I don’t think alot of the church going people I know would really get out in the community and help others. Jesus believed in helping those in need and spreading his food and teachings to everyone. Not just putting on a pretty outfit on Sunday and looking down your nose at people who don’t go to church.
I used 2 volenteer ther now i dont but i would price the toys and it was fun to price them 4 like 25cent!!
@Mary it was I, not Molino Jim that said I gave a RED CHAIR
and that was a week ago so I’m sure it was gone when you got
there. Keep watching I will be donating a lot of nice things.
I didn’t see the red chair by the next day, so thinking someone
needed it and thats the whole point.
good to see this in molino. it has been sad to see businesses leave molino over the years, always sad, but when something like this happens, it really great for the whole community.
it is really nice to have i bought my son a nice entertainment center for $13.00 and 2 or 3 name brand shirts for 2.00 couldnt beat it especially when u cant go to the mall anymore these days keep up the good work pastor lee
I was ther this morning..not bad they were still putting stuff out! Molinojim..I didnt see a red chair. Me & my sister got matching coffee cups & a children’s sleeping bag & a purse. They do have some nice looking clothes. Everyone just give it a chance!
Great Job Church!
I have some old toys from when i was little, now i have the perfect place to stop by and drop them off!
Have a Great day && God Bless!
I just would like to say that I know Jason and Irene personally from when they had a store in Cantonment. If someone needed a coat I assure you tha they got one . They gave away coats milk and bread from there store on more than one occasion and before school started one year you could buy any coat in the store for 1.00. So I say thank you Bless you jason and Irene. You are a blessing to many.
There will always be a “MOLINO JIM” everywhere you go!
I say, Great job Pastor,
I go at least 2 times a week, and plan to donate everything I find in my home that I don’t need. I LOVE the place!
This is an amazing store and vision of the pastor’s!
Amen to this Pastor.
WOW that is a great idea, a great ministry and a new item on my “to do” list!!
folks, trust your heart where you go to shop, as for me i will be going there to shop and see what goodies i can get, love to go to thrift shops and antique stores.
ill also add, for the people who donate items that do not have a particular church family, their 10% (from the amount that their donated items were sold for) goes into a special catagory….at the end of the month, which ever participating church that had the most items donated/sold (from their church members) will get that “bonus” 10% amount from that “no church affiliation” catagory…i know that one month, the winning church got a $300.00 “gift” from that catagory..if im not mistaken, that $300.00 went to help fund a mission trip for one of their members who needed help…..i dont think that jason has computer access at home (from what he said) otherwise, im sure that hed be happy to explain any questions that were raised about that “90% profit”…he is VERY above board and honest.
Molino Jim…
If you have never run a business let me tell you something.
It is hard for a business to even MAKE a profit all the time.
Rents are terrible, Lights are terrible.
Some thrift stores don’t donate anything to anyone except their own pockets.
As for the person that thought they should just GIVE a coat.
I believe If I read it right, it was the person asking for the coats
IDEA. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t hurt someone to earn
what is handed. It actually will make them feel better about
the transaction, or at least it should.
I donated a Big Red Chair to the place and I hope they got
some good money for it so they can help their own ministry and
others.
To: Molino Jim, If you had read the article correctly, you would see that they doesn’t just give ten percent to one church. They gives to many. Items are marked for certain churches that are specified by the person donating and when those items are sold, the money is given to that specific church.I’m not trying to be rude, just saying you should reread the article and not be so quick to jump to conclusions. This is a great ministry and I hope to get to shop there soon.Thank God for people who follow in his footsteps.
@Milono Jim I think the 10% is a donation to other Churches and the 90% is kept for this Pastor’s Church wich is Oak Haven Baptist if I understand it correctly.
@ Jim there are thirft stores that gives nothing back at all!!! They have 100% over head…. Thank u for your donations…. But why would u ask such a question? I think that if the person had came in and asked for a coat they would have been more than happy to give one!!! But that person wanted to give time back instead of just taking a handout!!! Have a blessed day!!!
In response to “molinojim”…….not contradicting anything you’re saying. I know someone else who originally wanted to rent the old Grocery Advantage building, but rent was very high. I imagine that majority of that 90% overhead, if not all of it, is going to pay rent and utilities. And lets face it, thrift stores might sell a lot of items, but since their prices are marked so low, they are not making the profits that walmart might make. Even their 90% may not be all that much…….just a thought.
i am so glad to see that this unique outreach thrift store has been highlighted in northescambia.com…ive been there many times and i always leave w/fantastic bargains…the Christian music that plays while shopping is such an uplifting experience, as well….and, then…there is jason and his wife irene….as you walk thru the door, youre always greeted with a warm and friendly smile from one of them!…this thrift store is truely an impressive step of faith…each time i go in to shop, i get to hear about how another need for the stores operation was somehow met by God…BTW, i know that theyre in need of the plastic grocery bags and volunteers…all in all, we are certainly fortunate to have this ministry in our community!
this pastor reminds me of a preacher back in my teen years,i haven’t seen one of them in a long time that i can honestly say is a true blessing to meet! god bless!!
I KNOW I SHOULDN’T ASK THIS—WHERE DOES THE OTHER 90% OF THE PROFITS GO. I WELL UNDERSTAND THERE IS RENT , UTILITIES AND SO ON. EVEN IF THE PRICES ARE LOW, IT’S ODD THAT ON THAT REAL COLD DAY THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT THAT THE PERSON WHO NEEDED A COAT WAS NOT JUST GIVEN ONE AND AT THE SAME TIME ASK IF THEY COULD PUT IN A LITTLE TIME AT THE STORE. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP HERE IN MOLINO AND I HAVE DROPPED OFF STUFF SEVERAL TIMES. MY PERSONAL FEELING IS WE ALL NEED TO HELP ONE ANOTHER, BUT 90 % OVERHEAD?
This minister truly has the love of God in his heart. What a blessing to have him and his thrift store here in Molino. God bless you for truly being a man that God can use.
so so glad you came to molino youl have help out so much i have carried a lot of
things thair thay are wonderful folks i was at thair other store on 29 also
will help you all thay can i hope thay stay around for a while we
A WONDERFUL IDEA. A PASTOR WITH A VISION. I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE HOURS, IT ALLOWS FOR THOSE CHRISTIANS TO ATTEND BIBLE STUDY ON WED. NIGHTS AND CLOSED FOR THEM TO ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICE ON SUNDAY’S. I HOPE MANY OTHERS WILL READ AND SEE THIS, DONATE ITEMS AND BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS.
TO THE PASTOR: DON’T FORGET “ACTS 6:3-4″. GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS OAK HAVEN BAPTIST.