Our Beginnings
Our roots in the Linn County community run deep.
Sharing Hands started out in the early 1980s as a place for parents to exchange clothing and glean crops from local fields. Growing with the need, we became a non-profit corporation in 1982.
The clothing exchange evolved into the Thrift Store, which now serves the general public. It recycles over 5,000 articles of clothing and general household items monthly and offers them for sale at affordable prices.
The gathering of local crops grew into the Food Bank, which today is a part of the Oregon Food Bank distribution network. We provide food to many Linn County families each month to help alleviate food insecurity.
Our Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of our organization, making us able to provide vital services while keeping our operating costs low. Their time, skills, and dedication allow us to stretch every dollar further and help more people in our community.
Our Thrift Store volunteers accept donations and get them ready to be recycled and offered for sale. This includes carefully inspecting for damage, cleaning, and arranging merchandise for display. To set appropriate prices for donated items. volunteers sometimes have to research an item's history, materials, and other details. In addition, volunteers perform maintenance and cashiering at the Thrift Store every day from Tuesday through Saturday.
Our Food Bank volunteers are committed to making every visit a welcoming and positive experience. Trained in safe food handling and required to hold a current food handler’s card, they assist shoppers with courtesy and respect. Volunteers also receive and track food donations and shipments, help customers with their shopping, and connect them with additional resources that may be helpful.
And that's not all our volunteers do! They help in our bottle recycling center, our community garden, and our premises as a whole.
Are you interested in joining our volunteer team at Sharing Hands? Let us know and we'll get back to you soon.