PORT NECHES – After three years of thought and coordination, the Southeast Texas Dream Center has finally opened a thrift store in Port Neches.
Many supporters gathered on Thursday morning for cookies, coffee, a ribbon cutting and a prayer at the new location.
Called Re: stored, its sole purpose is to raise funds to cover the overhead costs of the Dream Center, a faith-based rehabilitation center for people who are homeless, disasters, hunger, addictions and lack of education.
“It’s easy for me to fundraise for people coming out of drug addiction and things like that,” said Michael Conner, one of the founders and directors of the Dream Center. “People want to give to that. People don’t want to donate to keep the lights on.
Now, through the sale of clothing, shoes, housewares and more, 100% of fundraising efforts can be spent supporting those in need.
Michael founded The Dream Center with his wife, Vilma, in 2017 and together they run the programs there. These are transplants from Los Angeles, where they were on staff at the original Dream Center. Michael was visiting his daughter in Southeast Texas when the idea of doing the same job in Beaumont occurred to him.
“God just spoke to my heart one day and said, ‘Beaumont needs a dream center,’” he said. And I’m like, ‘I rebuke that in Jesus name. “”
He didn’t think Beaumont was a bad place to live, but he saw it as a quiet community without much activity. However, he was convinced after looking at poverty and the per capita crime rate. So they moved across the country and started the Dream Center of Southeast Texas. With the help of Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick, they secured the lease for a former jail just off Memorial Freeway.
So far, they have an administration building, community center, cafeteria and male dormitory, with a female dormitory coming soon. In fact, they would like to extend to the whole complex.
“We have a vision for things like a wellness center, like human trafficking and veterans programs, emancipated youth…” Vilma said, indicating where on the map they envision the appearance. new centers. “Everything we’ve done in Los Angeles, we want to be able to have it. A residential program for families in transition who are on the verge of homelessness… ”
But to make all of these dreams come true, they have to be able to pay the day-to-day bills. And that’s where the thrift store comes in.
Michele Button, the manager of the thrift store, is a graduate of the Los Angeles Dream Center. She moved to Beaumont to help Vilma and Michael.
“We have volunteers and we’re going to bring one of the interns,” Button said. “He’s graduating from the program, so he’s actually going to come and work here part-time to pick up his professional skills after going through the program.
All the stock is supplied by donations. For one or two bags, people are encouraged to drop off their merchandise at the store. Those who have more are asked to bring their donations directly to the Dream Center so as not to overload the store’s storage capacity.
Re: stored is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at Village Square Shopping Center, 2825 Nall St., Port Neches.
rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com
twitter.com/ontheREKord
