Volunteer Services

SHARE & CARE OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The Share & Care Thrift Shop at Garden Spot Village is one of the best kept secrets in New Holland! The shop offers quality used items—from lamps and dishes to linens, purses, jewelry and furniture—at incredibly affordable prices. E.J. Rittersbach, a Garden Spot Village resident since August 2008, co-manages Share & Care with Shirley Wenger, a Garden Spot Village resident since June 1996, and Janice Ford, a Garden Spot Village resident since June 2017. EJ says, “I see two great reasons for supporting Share & Care through donations. First of all, 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Benevolent Fund, which supports residents who, for reasons outside of their control, have exhausted their financial resources." “Second, if a resident cannot physically bring the items to Share & Care, someone will come and get the items. There’s no need to drive the items somewhere or ask someone to pick them up and drop them off. We will take care of it.” She adds, “We always want to look at furniture before it’s dropped off, but everything else is welcome. Working coffee pots, toasters, flat screen TVs, knick-knacks, baskets—we welcome everything BUT clothing. If we get something we can’t sell, we just pass it along to another thrift store.” Cecilia Bardone, a Garden Spot Village resident since July 2019, volunteers in the Share & Care Thrift Shop on Thursday afternoons. “I thoroughly enjoy volunteering in Share & Care,” she says. “The store is great. When we moved in, we had things we didn’t need. We were able to donate items to Share & Care to help our community.” Residents, team members and members of the broader New Holland community shop often. EJ reports that sales for the store are up but donations are down! If you are downsizing, fall housecleaning or just generally working through your stuff, please share your unwanted items with Share & Care. Share & Care is open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm and Saturday, 9am to noon. Drop items off during those hours and shop for new items too!