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Jul 23, 2012 | Jane Calhoun

Commentary: St. David's Next-to-New Shapes Lives

James - Next to NewAt Next-to-New, we’re not just about making money for St. David’s outreach programs. We change people’s lives!

 

One of our youngest volunteers, James, is a 13-year-old going into 8th grade at Murchison Middle School. With his single mother, he lives in East Austin in public housing. He was kicked out of school for the last three days of the year because of fighting in the hall and came to do community service with his attitude and his mother (those under 18 years-old must be accompanied by a parent).

 

James sulked and shrugged during the interview; and the former middle school teacher in me came out. James and I and his mother talked about changes that would need to be made for him to be successful at Next-to-New. And changes were indeed made. The “old ladies” as he called them, talked to him, heaped love on him, hugged him and praised him every time he made a good choice. After two Saturdays, he was told he had been approved to stay on without his mother as a monitor. After a month, he asked to become a “real volunteer”, having been prompted by a few of his new grandmothers and also learning to ride the bus on his own.

 

The week before he became a “real volunteer”, he asked for a “real nametag”. That afternoon his mother called to tell me that he was no longer on probation with the courts. James had told his probation officer about the old ladies and how they treated him and told him how proud they were of him. James also told the officer that he was asked to be a real volunteer without supervision.

 

James has been “promoted” several times. He has been the trainer for new taggers and the cart checker. Just the other day he diffused an agitated customer with his apologies for something that wasn’t even his fault. He told the customer how hard he worked to see that things went well and that he was so sorry this particular incident had happened.

 

As he helped her out with her huge picture, he smiled and said, “Never fear when James is here!” The customer was as charmed as all of us have become. James is our “go to man” in the shop! He now can tell everyone just how proud he is of the job he is doing. He is also discussing playing sports next year, and majoring in marine biology in college! Check him out on our Facebook page, and come meet him in person at the shop!


The Next-to-New Shop is a St. David’s outreach initiative that sells consigned, donated and estate merchandise to the Austin community. Proceeds are used to support annual grants to local charities and to support the restoration of St. David’s Historic Church. Jane Calhoun is a volunteer at Next-to-New.