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Treasures for the home and heart


Alison White turns bargains for the home into blessings for the needy


STORY & PHOTOS By KATIE VANBRACKLE katie@northsidewoman.com


Alison White ran a furniture


consignment shop on Hilton Head Island, S.C. for 20 years. When she moved to Atlanta, she swore “never again!” Yet, there she stands behind the counter of Treasures, an upscale home furnishings resale store on Alpharetta Highway in Roswell. The difference lies in the mission behind the store.


Treasures is


owned by a nonprofit organization, Treasures Ministry, comprised of local business people. The ministry was the brainchild of White and she serves as executive director.


Each year, 100 percent of the


net profits from the store are donated to local charities, fulfilling the mission of


“turning earthly treasures into


heavenly treasures.” So instead of working for her


own profit, White now employs her business skills toward earning money to help those in need. “Knowing that I’m working for the


good of others makes each day a pleasure,” said White. “I’m a happy camper because I believe in what I’m doing.”


Treasures is a win-win proposition all the way around, White explains. Furniture consigners are happy because they receive half of the selling price of their items and feel good knowing the other half goes to a good cause. The customers are happy because they find beautiful


How you can help


• Donate your furnishings and receive a tax receipt.


• Consign with Treasures and receive 50 percent of the selling price.


• Volunteer to assist customers in the store. 12 | northsidewoman.com | april2012


furnishings for their homes at very low prices. The community at large benefits when Treasures’ net profits are used to support local charities. “Treasures


customers or have


the unique opportunity to shop for furniture


additional satisfaction of knowing that


their bargain finds will help


influence others’ lives,” said White. “When you invest in a quality piece of furniture from Treasures, you are also making an investment in your community. We’re the only store around who does this.”


The Drake House in Roswell, which provides emergency housing for single mothers and children in the North Fulton area, was the first local charity


to benefit when Treasures


opened in 2006. Each month, a different local


nonprofit is selected such as Foster Care Support


Foundation or Just


People, Inc., a Roswell-based support group for adults with developmental disabilities like Down autism or Asperger’s.


syndrome,


In December 2011, White says she had the most fun yet when Treasures was able to give $3,000 to six area churches. “The money was for the churches share


to with parishioners who


were out of work, just in time for the holidays,” she said. “The churches’ benevolent


funds were grateful for the financial help.” Furnishings at Treasures are


Treasures Resale 11060 Alpharetta Highway, Suite 140


Roswell, Ga. 30076 770-594-2939


www.treasuresresale.com almost


depleted and they were so surprised and


additional accessories with the


Top: Alison White serves as executive director of Treasures Ministry. Bottom: Donated or consigned home furnishings are sold at Treasures to raise money for local charities.


priced to sell. No item remains in the store more than four months, after which the consignor may choose to retrieve their item or donate it to Treasures Ministry. Much of the inventory is donated from the start by those who wish to support the ministry without receiving money in return. “Just this month, we received item,” said White. “New


our 40,000th


furnishings arrive almost daily.” Many donated furniture pieces


are updated by talented Treasures employees who turn ordinary pieces into extraordinary one-of-a-kind finds with stylish decorative paint finishes, new knobs or hand-painted detailing. Volunteers come in weekly to


help keep the showroom organized and attractive and offer


design


advice to customers. Several former volunteers


enjoyed the work so


much they later became Treasures employees.


Whatever their position, all who work at Treasures agree that one of the best parts of their job is spending time with the customers.


“Often we have people who come in and only pretend to shop,” admitted White. “What they


are


really looking for is someone to talk to, someone who will listen with a smile. Everyone wants to feel special.” When speaking of her own role at Treasures, White puts it this way. “God owns the business. I just work here.”


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