By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Del Rio’s Bargain Box is getting a new name and charity to support.
For many years The Bargain Box supported Val Verde Regional Medical Center’s hospice program. During the tenure, board members said they donated $1.3 million to the program.
However, the hospital recently ended the program, leaving the Bargain Box’s board without a charity to support.
“During COVID, we were hit with staffing shortages and that forced us to end the program,” said Linda Walker, CEO of Val Verde Regional Medical Center.
However, that left the Bargain Box’s team, located at 108 Greenwood Street, without a charity to support.
“We’d simply write that program checks,” said Emily Cooper, member of the Friends of Val Verde Health and Wellness Inc’s board who helped lead the program through the transition from The Hospice program. “We just want to keep the Bargain Box’s fundraising program going and do good for our community.”
While the hospital’s hospice program is no more, the new board will be able to funnel that money to other charities in the community.
The organization’s bylaws say the purpose for the renamed organization is: “to support and enhance healthcare, education, and research to promote the general health, wellness, and quality of life to the community by receiving funds given to the corporation and dispersing these funds…”
The organization’s board is creating a grant process that allows any 501c3 or non-profit organization to apply for support.
The first round of grants will begin March 1 and may be submitted through April 30. The grant applications will be on the organization’s Facebook page.
The thrift store will have a different look as the staff is making improvements. “In the past, we’ve owned half the building and now we own it all,” Cooper said. “That has enabled them to make some tweaks.
“We are doing some much needed renovations,” said Twana Billeaudeau, a board member.
The hours will stay the same. People can drop off donations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and the store will be open to the public 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
One change people will see is the staff is accepting medical donations, so gently used walkers, wheelchairs and some other medical-oriented items will be available.
“This is a real gem for our community,” Billeaudeau said. “People are able to donate gently used items, community members who need can buy items they need, and then, we are able to turn around and donate the proceeds throughout our community.”
The best way to stay current on the program’s happenings is through their Facebook page.
