GROWTH

Kindness, and The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Community Center.

She noted that the thrift store also has a scholarship program to support local youth with college expenses. Whitworth said that two scholarships are currently in the process of being awarded to Yuma students, one of which is pursing a career as a nurse and the other who is pursuing a career as a thoracic surgeon, she added.

“Ten percent of our total gross income goes to scholarship programs and five percent of our gross (income) goes to our before and after school program,” she said. “We are in the process of starting up another one.”

Along with supporting causes, Whitworth said the thrift store also hosts a “Meet the Author” group once a month in the fall to help local authors gain exposure in the community. The group is presently run by Yuma author Pinkie Paranya.

Whitworth said the cost of expanding the Hands Extended thrift store comes in at about $100,000. She said the organization will need a down payment to get the process started. So far, Whitworth said Hands Extended has saved $35,000 for the expansion and has received another $5,000 from donations.

For the expansion, Whitworth estimates that the organization will need another $15,000 to $20,000 for the down payment.

According to the Hands Extended website, the organization was established in 2003 as an outreach group that supplied clothing and toys for children in need. As years passed, Hands Extended continued to expand its services.

In 2015, Hands Extended opened the volunteer-run thrift store which helps local veterans, homeless and underprivileged families.

Those who wish to donate to Hands Extended for the expansion can do so in person, by mail or online at www.gofundme.com/handsextended-growth-fund.

Hands Extended is also in need of volunteers.

More information on Hands Extended can be found at www.hands-extended.org.

The store can be reached by calling 928-342-1210.