Second Chance Stories: Spotlight on the Donors

When newbies come into Second Chance Emporium, their first question is often, “Where did all this stuff come from?”

The simple answer is, “Us.” Good-hearted people from the community donate things they no longer need or want to the non-profit store in La Grange.

For example, Ramsie Warnken of Schulenburg rolled up to the Second Chance donation door recently with a car full of things.

Ramsie said her motherin- law regularly donates to Second Chance, so she has picked up the habit.

Besides, she needs to open some space in her house. “I’m pregnant and I need to make room for a nursery,” Warnken explained.

On the same day, Gary Niesner donated a grandfa-ther clock from his office supply store on the square in La Grange.

Piece by piece, the donations come in and the 20,000 square foot building fills. When the store opens at 9 a.m. Friday, the shelves are teeming.

Sales of those donations benefit both the buyers and the community. All “profits” from Second Chance are donated back to local organizations. In January, Second Chance made $74,000 in grants, including:

• $10,000 to the Flatonia Public Library to buy books, sponsor a summer reading program and build a new website.

• $6,000 to the La Grange Area Small Business Foundation to promote workforce development and to sponsor a symposium on entrepreneurship on March 8.

• $14,000 to the Texas Ramp Project, to buy materials to build wheelchair ramps for elderly and disabled Fayette County residents.

• $20,000 to the Turtle Wing Foundation to help children with learning challenges.

• $20,000 to be divided among 10 Fayette County volunteer fire departments.

• $4,000 to the Fayette County Community Theater for professional development training.

Second Chance welcomes donations at the store on South Reynolds in La Grange. And what comes in the back door goes out the front.

Gary Niesner’s grandfather clock sold first thing on Friday.