A place for your good stuff

Garage sales, donations to charity, gifts to younger families - the various ways we take what we have and repurpose them. We want to declutter, we want to help others, and we want to make a little extra cash. We could throw it away, and sometimes we do, but we like the idea of putting our current stuff to a second use.

Let me offer one more suggestion for your good stuff that needs a new home. Or perhaps stuff you didn't know you need to part with, but are thinking about someone else who might need it more.

The CarePortal (https://careportal.org/) is a resource to connect the needs of vulnerable children in our area with the resources of the church. "Resources" doesn't just refer to stuff, but also neighborly love, friendship, time, a listening ear, and someone who is humble enough to be blessed in return.

The CarePortal started off by specific requests in certain locations, and those involved in the CarePortal would see needs show up in their emails as they happen. It has been a wonderful partnership we've entered into. But the technology has added new features so that we can now search based on what we have as well as what is needed.

For example, a family might need a kitchen table in order for their children to be placed back in their home, the case worker enters the need in the CarePortal, those in the system geographically near the need get the email, and they see if they have a kitchen table. If yes, then the need can be met. (And perhaps a new friendship can develop, too.) We're already familiar with this process.

The new angle works in the opposite direction. Someone has a kitchen table they want to repurpose it. They (or a friendly CarePortal member in their church) searches the CarePortal to see if anyone needs a kitchen table, and if that need exists anywhere in the region, the church contacts the CarePortal who contacts the case worker who contacts the family with the need. Same connection, but in the opposite direction. Assets-based compared to needs-based - both ways can form a connection.

If you have things you'd like to repurpose, before putting it in the garage sale or donating to another worthy cause, please consider the CarePortal, which has such great potential to meet specific needs and develop meaningful relationships. Just let one of the CarePortal partners at Grace know about your stuff! See Diane, Caylyn, Tom, or Jason, or anyone else you know who is involved.