By Sara Wiercinski
After seven years of searching, Blessings Abound has found a home for its third thrift store location.
The nonprofit started back in 2007 in a Lutheran church, and has since expanded to two successful thrift stores in Overland Park. At the end of April it will open another in the former Big Lots store at 13637 Washington in Martin City.
CEO Mike Thomas said they considered at least 15 different places before the Martin City location became available. “We love being in Missouri. And this new location extends our pickup radius by 20 miles.”
Thomas, staff and volunteers have been busy inside the new space, renovating, assembling store displays and sorting donations to get ready for the April 26 grand opening.
“We want to replicate the success of our other two stores,” said Thomas. “You will find a great assortment of items at good prices.”
Kansas City has a huge thrift market dominated by larger nonprofits. Thomas is proud of Blessings Abound’s commitment to community impact, which enlarges the scope of those served.
“There are our thrift stores, yes, but Blessings Abound is essentially a financial engine that helps other area partners,” said Thomas.
Blessings Abound donates net proceeds from its stores to seven nonprofit partners working in the area: Lutheran Urban Mission Agency, HopeBuilders, Pete’s Garden, Metro Lutheran Ministry, Operation Breakthrough, Mission Southside and Flourish: A Furniture Bank.
In 2024, that funding amounted to $2 million.
“These organizations are addressing food security and providing youth development. They are serving people who are disabled and looking for solutions to homelessness,” said Thomas. “Helping these partners spreads our resources across our community.”
Blessings Abound also issues smaller one-time grants to nonprofit groups on a rolling basis. In 2024, it assisted 32 additional agencies.
“Our supporters really value that impact. Once people learn about our mission, they tend to become loyal and feel good about shopping here.”
Blessings Abound will offer free donation pickups in the south Kansas City area. A drop-off lane will be installed in the front of the store for convenient drive-up donations.
Of the donated apparel, Thomas estimates that about 60-70% is sellable. Items deemed unsellable are bounded up and sold to commodities exchanges, which keeps them out of the landfill. Blessings Abound also shares donated items with its partners, including furniture for Flourish’s showroom.
Thomas and his team are hiring staff positions for the third store. There are also scheduled volunteer events as the grand opening approaches.
“We have a committed group of volunteers, and also welcome new people from the community,” said Thomas.
On April 10, new neighbor Freddy’s, 13628 Washington, will host a dine-out event, donating 15% of sales from 5 to 9 pm back to Blessings Abound.
The new store opens April 26 and will be open 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday. Seniors and Military receive a 25% discount on Thursdays.
Learn more at blessingsaboundkc.org.
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