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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-08-23, Page 5'Blessing Unlimited' By Ross Haugh Blessings Unlimited. That's the dame of a very suc- cessful used clothing store in Zu- rich, but also a term to describe the benefits derived by all involved. "Love in action," proclaims thea Operation Blessing, operated by the 700 Club Christian television min- istry. But she had one difficulty with what she saw - they gave away all the clothes they distributed. She felt that her store would not be able to do that because there Toys, too - This plush animal being shown by Ina Neeb and Pearl Kuepfer is on sale at -Blessings Unlimited in Zurich along with countless articles of clothing, toys and books. sign over the store. And if you speak to the proprietress, Mrs. Pearl Kuepfer, she will quickly point out that the full slogan is, 'Jesus' love in action," as the store's business cards bear out. And that, she asserts, is the whole intent of the store. Mrs. Kuepfer acknowledges that the roots of the store go back to her experiences with her late husband, Gerald Gingerich, who had such a deep compassion for people's needs. He passed away in 1983, leaving his widow to seek a new direction for her life. It was not long before she thought of starting a used cloth- ing outlet in Zurich. But, she ex- plains, she pondered and prayed about the idea for about a year be- fore making any move to get it un- derway. In 1984 Mrs. Kuepfer visited an outlet in Kitchener similar to what she had envisioned. It was called would be no source of funds to cov- er expenses. But she was encour- aged by what she saw, and she de- cided to sell clothes, charging minimal prices. So many of the store's items sell in the 95¢ to $1.95 range. Some things cost more. Jeans cost $2.00. Men's suits range between $6.95 and S12.95, and ladies' dresses be- tween S1.95 and $4.95. The store was started in June of 1984, in a rented house in the vil- lage of Zurich. The landlord was very understanding and agreed to wait for the initial rent, since there were not sufficient funds on hand. Everything was being done on sheer faith. But, the clothes began coming in at a very encouraging rate. And the next Sunday Mrs. Kuepfer went to church only to discover that some- one had left an envelope marked simply, "For Blessings Unlimited." is a blessing In it she found five $20 bills - enough to cover the first month's rent. But actually that gift did more than that. As Mrs. Kuepfer ex- plains, "That confirmed id my mind that the store was what the Lord wanted." And from that point things have never looked back. . As already mentioned, from the very first donations of good cloth- ing came in. Actually, the folks at the store point out, it is more accu- rate to say they came flooding in. And not only has this never ceased, but there has been a steady growth in donations. Some people think someone must be soliciting the gifts, but Mrs. Kuepfer insists this is not so. Rather, she says, this is left strictly up to God and the people - a policy that obviously is working well. True to its name, in the first three months o_ f operation the store out- grew the house it was in. Although it felt like a huge step of faith at the time an attractive retail sales build - ing with 1,200 square feet of floor space was secured near Zurich's main intersection. At first it was thought that the store was too big for their needs, that half of it should perhaps be used to sell used furniture. But, that was never necessary. Very quickly the store was filled with good quali- ty used clothing. "None of this would ever have been possible if the people of our area were not so gen- erous with their donations," Mrs. Kuepfer explains. She adds, "I have simply been overwhelmed by people's responses. They have donated so many items of good clothing, many of them new or near -new. The donors will never know how much good they are doing for others." But having a used clothing ex- change is only just the beginning. Blessings Unlimited, even though they charge so very little for what they sell, still generates a tidy fi- nancial surplus, made possible be - Times -Advocate, August 23, 1989 Page 5 to all involved cause neither Mrs. Kuepfer or any of the other workers in the store take anything for their work. Consequently numerous families have been helped with gifts of clothing, food and money. Truck- loads of surplus clothing have been sent to Goodwill Industries and �.g AO 40 Mission Services in London. And cash has been donated to Zurich's four churches and the children's work of World Vision. Mrs. Kucpfer adds "Our first con- cern is to help the people of Zurich and area. Our church pastors let us know when families need help. We are not here to make a living but to help others." Rated just behind the contribu- tions of clothes, Mrs. Kuepfer stresses, is the great help she has re- ceived from ladies from all four of Zurich's churches. She says she just cannot praise them too highly. But as of last year, with her marriage to Andrew Kuepfer, she says she has the best help of all. "Andrew fitted right in. We are partners. What a great help he is!" For the convenience of anyone wishing to donate clothing after hours, a receiving box is located be- hind the store. The store is open each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Wednes- day. As for the future, the Kuepfers are praying and looking for younger hands to carry forward the every - growing work and service of Bless- ings Unlimited. It would suit you - Andrew Kuepfer checks out some men's suits available at the Blessings Unlimited Store in Zurich. • • Permission OTTAWA - The National Trans- portation Agency of Canada (NTA) recently announced that it has grant- ed the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) authority to aban- don the operation of its Forest Sub- division between Forest Junction and Lucan, a total distance of 15.5 miles in the Province of Ontario. Deadline to abandon CLINTON - There is about a year and a half left to go before the planned ending date of March 31, 1991 for the Ontario Pork Industry Improvement Plan. A series of deadlines has been im- plemented to ensure that the re- inaining funds -will be transferred to producers in an orderly fashion. For those producers who are not yet enrolled, they have until De- cember 31, 1989 to do so. For those producers who are in the program, grant applications for items or services purchased prior to March ,31, 1989 must bc in the County, ^ .. • v„ va.av ua.a J 1, 1989. ns -ant applica,44 - tions relating to period April 1, 1989 to "'arch 31, 1990 must be Counttoffice by June 30, February 1, 1991 will be the last day that grant applications or pro- duction records of any kind will be ^cPnted. for Hutton County The National Transportation Act, 1987 sets out procedures for the NTA to review proposed rail line abandonments. Under this Act, the NTA must decide whether or not the operation of the line is econom- ic, and if not, whether there is a rea- sonable possibility that the 'opera- tion of the line will become economic in the foreseeable future. If the operation of the line is uneco- nomic and is likely to remain so, theNTA must approve its abandon- ment. If, however, it is found that the operation of the line is econom- ic or might become economic in the foreseeable future, then the NTA must determine whether it is in the public interest to retain it. In 1985, 1985, and 1987, the op- eration of this portion of the Forest Subdivision incurred annual losses of $143,060, $154,589 and $147,707 respectively. In view of the historical traffic pattern and forecasts submitted and as there are no known developments in the area which would generate increased traf- fic on the branch line, the Agency has concluded that the narration of uw piesenuy uneconomic and is likely to remain so. The order to abandon the opera- tion of the line will take effect on January 1, 1990. NEED A MORTGAGE? 1st, 2nd, Multi Family or Com- mercial, flexible terms, fast, confidential service, CaII "The Mortgage Mart" London - 433-6666 1-800-265-1508 WE GET RESULTS! Comp -Account Computerized Accounting For small & medium sired busi- nesses. 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