Transitional home opens second-hand shop

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

C.A.Y.A. (Come As You Are) Ministries celebrated the grand opening of a new venture to support the church’s transitional living home on Tuesday, June 24.

C.A.Y.A.’s Closet, located next to Upon This Rock Church on North Main Street, features a selection of new and used items donated to the church, including clothes, books, kitchenware, and more.

The Charles City Chamber Ambassadors stopped by to celebrate the opening with a ribbon-cutting and meet with C.A.Y.A. founder Victoria Mead, who showed the group around the shop.

“There’s a lot of nice things in here,” Mead said. “I just want to give thanks to everyone that has donated.”

Revenue from the second-hand store will go to support the C.A.Y.A. Transition Home, which offers women in bad situations a place to stay and receive not just food and clothing, but also counseling, job placement and transportation if needed.

“It’s creating a safe place for them to heal,” said Mead. “Everything a person needs to live.”

Along with supporting the transitional home financially, the new shop is also being used as an opportunity for the women that use the home to develop job skills and gain a sense of responsibility.