Thrift store just the start of community outreach plan

In just 28 days, the Second Chance Thrift Store morphed from an idea to a reality.

On April 16, the doors opened for the first time. Within four days, there were enough sales to pay the month’s expenses, which meant that the rest of the proceeds would go back into the community.

According to Action Church pastor Gary Lamb, “that’s a great feeling and great affirmation that this is the right thing.”

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The nonprofit store, which relies strictly on donations, was started by Action Church in Canton as a way to fund the congregation’s community outreach efforts.

And it’s a step toward establishing Action Distribution Center, a ministry that Lamb said will supply groceries and clothes 24/7. Currently church members hold a community outreach every couple months. “Last month we gave away 15 tons of food, and we had to do it in one day because it was all frozen. Once we get the distribution center, we can do it all the time,” said Lamb. The idea to open the store came about naturally as folks began to see Action Church as a congregation that was “giving out stuff.”

“Every time I came to the church, there’d be a couch or a dresser outside the building and I said, why don’t we start selling this stuff,” said Lamb. “From the day we started the church, I said I want us to have an impact in the business community. We thought that would be a coffee shop downtown, but I don’t even drink coffee. That’s not our vibe. This thrift store just fit us perfect.”

Second Chance Thrift Store: 920 Reinhardt College Parkway, just under a mile north of Riverstone Boulevard. Open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8:30 a.m-5 p.m. Saturday. www.secondchancecanton.com.