The Salvation Army store in Levelland will sell necessities and offer services to the community through the holiday season.
Store Manager Irma Reyes said she has been at The Salvation Army store since its opening, working with customers that have turned into family at the store.
Even after switching to a different location, she said the store is still outgrowing its space.
“Donations like crazy, this community’s been great,” Reyes said. “They just donate on a daily basis, all day long.”
Reyes said the store is usually busy year-round, with customers coming in for necessities.
The store receives everything and anything, and she said a customer will end up needing it.
“Just the basic stuff that we take for granted on a daily basis,” Reyes said, “there’s people out there that really need it.”
Near Christmas time and colder weather, Reyes said customers come in for coats and sweaters; blankets and sheets they can use outdoors for animals; food options available near the store’s register; and Christmas items.
“Of course, they’re worried about their gifts and stuff, and you don’t have to spend so much – an arm and a leg – on stuff,” Reyes said, “where they’re able to be able to do that kind of stuff for their families or whatever they need.”
She said specifically with Christmas items, the customers bought up Christmas trees that were being sold at half-price.
Additionally, according to The Salvation Army Levelland Facebook, the store held a 12 Days of Christmas sale, discounting items like clothing, Christmas items and electronics.
She said the store does not exist to make millions of dollars, and they want people to be able to buy what they need and want and not walk out broke.
“We don’t pay for any of this stuff, this is just stuff that everybody brings in,” Reyes said. “And so, we’re truly, truly blessed. So we’re gonna bless everybody.”
Beside items sold in the store, Reyes said The Salvation Army helps people with utility bills and works with local organizations to put the money made at the store toward helping those that need it.
She said applications for assistance can be filled out at sahelp.org.
Reyes said she cannot complain about the community’s donations around this time of year, as anything donated can help the customers.
“Because they do give us some blankets, they do bring us the coats and the jackets and the stuff for the winter,” Reyes said. “Even tents, ‘cause there’s some people that do live in tents…” Reyes said something else that supports the store’s service is the organization’s red kettle bell ringing.
“That is one big thing that we do during the holidays, ‘cause we’re able to use that money throughout the year,” Reyes said.
She said she is thankful for the community for helping the store on a daily basis and the organization’s board members for making sure the store is taken care of. Without the donors and donations, the store would not be where it is and be able to help as many people as they can, she said.
“Really, God is good,” Reyes said. “That’s all I can say, honestly.