Right on schedule, the Blanco Good Samaritan Center reopened its doors to business and community service Monday, Sept. 17, after a week-long renovation project that included installation of a new floor.

The center, which houses a thrift store and food pantry on Pecan Street, closed for business Sept. 10-14. Thanks to a generous Blanco donor, the costs of floor materials and labor were covered 100 percent.

Clothes and other items were temporarily stored in a box trailer provided by Jimmy Klepac and Klepac Greenhouses Inc. Ace Hardware donated shelf brackets, and Subway provided sandwiches for volunteer workers. The Johnson City EMS also donated display cases, desks, bins and other items for use in the center.

Throughout the week, volunteers–men and women–worked hard and fast to paint and install new shelving.

“Country Floors and More did an excellent job of installing our new floor,” said Mary Huser, clothing committee chairperson. “And volunteer Katrina Hinshaw and her daughter, Lorissa, built all our new shelving and racks for clothing. Katrina pretty much redesigned our whole store! She’s a true-blue volunteer.”

“We also had volunteers who helped us move items out and then back in, volunteers who gave up their Sunday afternoon to paint our walls,” Huser added, “and volunteers who worked Saturday and Sunday to put out two week’s worth of donations. We just couldn’t have gotten everything done without our volunteers.”

The Blanco Good Samaritan Center helps people in need in Blanco and Blanco County. All funds for the center come from donations of several local churches, individual gifts and the sale of second-hand clothing and other items. No local, state or federal funds support the center.

The pantry and store are open week days, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 833-5269 or visit online blancogoodsam.org.