BROWNSTOWN — The owners of Anytime Florals and Gifts in Brownstown recently talked about doing something to give back.
One thing that came to mind was all of the work that is put into the Shed for You community building on a regular basis.
Since the summer of 2019, the building in the 100 block of West Walnut Street in Brownstown has been accessible 24/7 for people to take or donate nonperishable food items, toiletries, paper products, cleaning supplies and more. It was created by Brownstown Central High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and members help keep the building stocked.
“We know that all of the work that they’ve done for the Shed for You is great, and all of comments we’ve heard about people needing it, liking it, needing more stuff, we just thought it would be a great way to help the community, it would be a great way for us as individuals and as business owners to give back to the community,” one of the shop owners, Luke Nolting, said.
He and his wife, Caitlin Nolting, and fellow shop owner Jackie Gibson came up with an initiative to boost the Shed for You leading into the upcoming holidays.
For the month of October, anyone who brings in fiv
e nonperishable food items or hygiene products will receive 25% off of their purchase of cash-and-carry items in the store at 310 E. Commerce St., Brownstown. That will through Oct. 31.
“We’re hoping this brings not only people into our store, but we’re giving back to the community,” Caitlin said. “Just a minimum of five nonperishables, and you could take 25% off your purchase here in the store. It’s just one way to give back to our community.”
The store’s owners and employees will be giving donations, too.
“I just think in our time we’re in, everything is so expensive, it’s hard,” Gibson said. “We’re blessed, all of us, but there are so many that aren’t.”
FCA Adviser Jennifer Shade said the Shed for You is regularly filled to the brim with a load of food picked up by volunteers. It’s stored at the nearby Brownstown United Methodist Church, and members of the BCHS volleyball and football teams help carry it from there to the shed. The BCHS basketball teams have helped in the past, too.
People also are encouraged to drop off donations at any time.
“I personally like it when they put kids food in there, things that are good for kids that you know go in lunchboxes and things that we know kids like so that they can benefit from it,” Shade said.
Monetary donations are accepted, too. They should be mailed to Brownstown Central Christian Athletes, P.O. Box 159, Brownstown, IN 47220.
Shade said some of the money is used to buy doughnuts and other supplies for FCA meetings, while the rest goes toward picking up the loads of food or buying food and hygiene products to keep the shed stocked.
“Even the kids will go shop for me sometimes so that they can feel like they are a part of it,” Shade said.
She appreciates Anytime Florals and Gifts for partnering with FCA on the October initiative and invites individuals, families and groups to donate when they can.
“This was the kids’ vision years ago, and when we got that put in place, the churches helped us put it in place. We have a lot of churches that still donate monthly,” Shade said. “It has just been a good thing, and it has been good for the kids. We try to keep the sports teams involved.”
How to help
The Shed for You community building is in the 100 block of West Walnut Street in Brownstown.
It was created by Brownstown Central High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 2019, and members help keep it stocked.
People can drop off nonperishable food and hygiene products any time, and those who need these items can take them.
Monetary donations are accepted, too. They should be mailed to Brownstown Central Christian Athletes, P.O. Box 159, Brownstown, IN 47220.
Also, in October, anyone who drops off five nonperishable food items or hygiene products at Anytime Florals and Gifts, 310 E. Commerce St., Brownstown, will receive 25% off of a purchase of cash-and-carry items in the store.
