January 2024 Report
​
When we first came up with the ridiculous scheme of running a "set your own price" thrift store, we aimed to lose about $6,000 a year, go bankrupt after two years, and then move on to something less absurd. We missed. Instead, two years later, we have been blessed with thousands of customers (some that have even paid!), hundreds of supporters and community partners, dozens of volunteers, a dilapidated building and a moving truck. Sure, we still get the occasional Google review that will compare our shop to the smell of armpits, but otherwise I am calling this project a "win."
​
I often wonder what I am doing here. I have no business acumen, interest in retail or understanding of fashion. I can't fix anything. I have a bad back. I have no sense of direction. I can't parallel park. I should not be running a business or renovating a building or, for the love of humanity, allowed anywhere near a moving truck. So why me?
​
It is true that I don't know how to do anything. But one thing I do know, is that I don't know how to do anything. This puts me in a perfect place to live in the grace of God and man. As we enter into our second full year of operations, we want to thank you all for your support and partnership. And for those of you that I am about to accidentally cut off as I poorly navigate the streets of Virginia . . . we thank you for your patience and grace.
​
Jackie's Attic January Expenses*:
Rent: $800
Utilities: $985
Gas: $479
Charitable distributions: $729 (food cards, gas cards, assistance with automotive repairs, meals/food, volunteers' discretionary giving/spending, etc.)
Building expenses: $568
Garbage/dump fees: $584
Grant Application fees: $500
Taxes: $1275 (quarterly sales tax included)
Insurance: $1051 (annual, mandated)
​
Total January Expenses: $6,971
​
Jackie's Attic January Sales: $4,989
​
Financial Gifts Received: $166
​
Jackie's Attic January total: -$1816
​
Jackie's Attic Current balance: $10,767**
​
"Someone Ought To": Purchase of truck -$10,000
​
"Someone Ought To" Current balance: $5,167**
​
January miles driven: 1308
​
January deliveries: approximately 14,000 pounds hauled, 21 deliveries, moved 9 people
​
February 2024 Report
​
It has been said, cynically, “No good deed goes unpunished.” This is untrue. There are many good deeds that have been done anonymously or have slipped by unnoticed or unappreciated. But, if you happen to get caught doing a good deed, yes, you will be punished. Help someone move, and eventually you will be moving their friends and family as well. Feed the poor, and the poor will keep coming. Deliver a couch, for free, to a complete stranger who is on a weight-lifting restriction and lives in a 3rd floor apartment with “tricky” hallways and no elevator . . . and expect to get threatening texts for the next two weeks because the couch has a scuff mark.
So why ever leave your own couch? Because everything in this world of any value can only be attained through sacrifice. This belief is at the core of the gospel of Jesus and the mission of “Someone Ought To.” Speaking as a man who has spent a lot of time on couches, and a lot of time under couches, regardless of any judgment, resentment and spinal misalignment -no contest . . . under is better.
​
As we find ourselves in the season of Lent, a time marked by sacrifice, may you find true joy and blessing by taking up your cross, or someone else's couch, and following Jesus.
​
February expenses:
Rent: $800
Utilities: $1468
Vehicle expenses: $304
Charitable giving: $1804
Volunteer expenses:
Building expenses: $152
Garbage: $10
​
Total expenses: $4538
​
Sales: $4758
Gifts: $474
Jackie's Attic February total: $694
Jackie's Attic Current balance: $11,461
​
Someone Ought To Current balance: $5,167
February deliveries: 2770 pounds hauled, 13 deliveries, moved 10 people
February mileage: 468
​
March 2024 Report
​
One of the principles that guide the operations of “Jackie's Attic” is that “nothing gets thrown away.” This is not just because I am too lazy to carry the garbage around to the dumpster in the back. This is because everything has some value to someone. Put a box of broken picture frames or soiled t-shirts in the back of the shop . . . and, eventually, someone will take them. I don't know what they do with them. I don't want to know what they do with them. But they say “thanks” and happily carry away what we should have long since thrown away. We don't always have the space to store everything, we rarely have the time to sort or display everything. But whatever it is, if it can be found, someone wants it.
Recently, we have been on a mission to salvage a far more valuable overlooked commodity: people. Every day customers walk into our shop looking for the elusive treasure -a rare book, an antique hutch, a cast iron skillet- all the while failing to notice that the only truly valuable things in the shop is the other customers. Virginia is filled with people sitting around, like a pile of unwanted women's blouses, just waiting for the right fit. Well, at “Jackie's Attic,” we are determined to find the right fit. Regardless of your interests, skills or scars, we can use you. Much of the cleaning, sorting, selling, hauling, ministering, funding, praying and organizing at the shop is done by people who were helped by the shop.
If you need something, you may or may not find it at “Jackie's Attic.” But if you need to be useful, I guarantee we have it in stock. So come on by and take out the trash! Because we all know I'm not going to.
March Expenses:
Rent: $800
Utilities: $805
Vehicle expenses/gas: $285
Taxes: $6209
Charitable giving: $730
Electrician: 776
Renovation expenses: $831
​
Total expenses: $10,436
​
Sales: $4566
​
Gifts: $266
​
March income: $4832
​
Jackie's Attic March total: -$5604
​
March deliveries: 3820 pounds hauled, 16 deliveries, moved 17 people
​
March mileage: 1342
​
2024 mileage: 3118
​
Current balance: $11,024
Organizations that we have partnered with in 2024: Accra, AEOA Virginia, AEOA Hibbing Shelter, Bethel Duluth,
Bill's House, Elk's Club, Essentia Health Virginia, First Covenant Church Virginia, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Lakeview, NHS, Northstar Church, Partner's in Recovery, Rachel's Thrift Store, Range Mental Health, Range Transitional Housing, Residential Services Incorporated (2 group homes), Salvation Army Virginia,
St. Louis County Social Workers, St. Louis County Community Health Programming, True Hope Church,
Twelve Step House Virginia, Virginia Bible Chapel, Virginia Green House, Wellstone Center, Youth For Christ
​
*Jackie's Attic is being absorbed by the 501C3 "Someone Ought To." Any sales, donations or assets accrued by "Jackies Attic" will belong to the charity and be used for its stated purposes.