Hillcrest Platte County will celebrate its 20th anniversary on June 7 with an event from 4 to 6 at the Platte City Thrift Shop, 1305 Branch St.
The thrift shop was started in 1976 by a couple who had fallen on hard times and lost their business and home. When their lives became stable again they wanted to ensure that other homeless families got as much help as they needed to get back on their feet.
The event on June 7 will celebrate the many families and individuals in the area who have benefited and thrived with the help of one of the most important pillars of the community, Hillcrest Platte County.
Hillcrest is inviting Platte City Chamber of Commerce members to help celebrate their 20th anniversary. There will be food, drinks and a scavenger hunt in the store with prizes for the winners.
Joe Vanover, Platte County Commissioner will read a proclamation establishing June 13, 2022 as Hillcrest Platte County Day.
It all started with a four-plex in Liberty, where the concept of providing a furnished apartment for 90 days to homeless families and individuals grew to include properties in Platte County, Johnson County, Buchanan County and Kansas.
The original thrift store was opened in August 2008 off Prairie View Road in Platte County. The Platte City location was opened in June 2013 and a third thrift store,the Clearance Outlet, was opened in May, 2018.
“In 2015, Hillcrest Platte County spun off from the main organization to focus on the needs in Platte County,” Donice Mahan, who has been executive director since 2010, said. “In 2015 we expanded our mission to also serve the insecurely housed and have stopped over 600 evictions. In 2017, after a call from the social worker at PCR3 high school, we opened the young adult housing to serve homeless high school students. Our thrift stores are our primary source of fundraising for the program costs.”
The funds raised through churches, individuals, grants, corporate donations, events and thrift operations are used to pay expenses of the transitional housing program. The housing program has 44 apartments, 33 of which are used to house homeless families, individuals and young adults.
The program participants are provided a furnished two-bedroom apartment at no cost as well as access to a food pantry.
“Each participant is assigned a case manager, budget counselor and will attend life skill classes,” Mahan said.
“HPC also has a licensed therapist on staff to assist participants who struggle with mental health issues and/or trauma. While the participants are in the program they are working to pay off debt and will establish a savings account to fall back on when they are living on their own again. The case manager works with each participant to assist in finding a place to live that fits into their budget once they have completed the program.”
The thrift shop has about 75 employees, full and part time, and more than 400 active volunteers.
As inflation continues, thrift stores grow more and more popular, plus many people find unique items that can’t be found in retail stores.
Hillcrest has been given many collectable, valuable and interesting items to sell, including a Hermes enamel bracelet, a sail boat and a grand piano.
Local community members continue to support Hillcrest by contributing and purchasing items.
“We are blessed with a community that supports what we do,” Mahan said. “We receive generous donations of items to be sold at the thrift stores. We are also very blessed in having wonderful volunteers that take ownership in the stores by getting merchandise sorted, tagged and out on the floor for purchase. In addition to providing funding for our programs, the thrift store also helps keep items out of the landfills.”
For Mahan, Hillcrest is more than a job, it is a calling. She enjoys working in a Christian environment where she knows her teammates are praying for her and working toward making the community a better place for everyone.
“The people who work alongside us as well as the supporters are some of the best people on the planet,” Mahan said. “The best part of working for Hillcrest is definitely the people.
“Celebrating the 20-year anniversary allows the community to take a moment to be amazed at what all can be accomplished when we work together. If you have donated to the shop, volunteered, shopped at the store, worked on staff, attended an event, graduated the program, or been involved in any way, you should be proud of the impact HPC has had in the Platte County community.”