“In The Image” Needs Your Help With Donation Problems!

Since the mid 1980s In The Image has been serving people in need. From their humble beginnings downtown providing clothing for the homeless in the basement of a downtown Heartside church, to their current building at the Town & Country Shopping Center on Kalamazoo Avenue, SE, In The Image has grown remarkably.

Now they are able to meet more basic needs of homeless and struggling folks - clothing, shoes, pots, pans, appliances, dressers, coats, toys, books, hygiene items, etc. - all at no cost. Only new and gently used items are offered, all for Free.

The growth has been rewarding to In The Image,

however, with expansion comes problems. They are so grateful for the generous folks making donations, but those donations sometimes come at the wrong time.

In The Image posted this picture on their Facebook page!

Oops! And, along with the picture, they posted this message:

"Attention, amazing supporters!

We appreciate your generosity more than words can express, but we kindly request that you refrain from dropping off donations when our doors are closed.

Here's why:
Closed Means Closed: When we're not open, our staff aren't available to accept donations.

Damaged Goods: Unfortunately, items left outside can suffer damage from weather or they are picked through by unauthorized individuals. This means that well-intentioned donations might not make it to those in need.

Ends Up in the Dumpster: Heartbreakingly, items left outside often end up unusable and have to be disposed of. This adds to our workload and expenses, taking away from our core mission.

As a reminder, ITI Donation Center hours are:
Mon-Fri: 10am - 3pm
Second Saturday of the Month: 10am - 12pm
Third Thursday of the Month: 5pm - 8pm

We're incredibly grateful for continued support and donations, we just ask that they are dropped off during operating hours! This ensures your contributions are in the best condition to reach those who need them most. Thank you for understanding! Together, we can make a real difference."

It is so heartwarming that so many are willing to be there with donations for those in need. However, they would love it if you checked their hours to make sure your donation goes to the right folks and not the dumpster.