God's Marketplace, Inc. cuts ribbon on new facility

John Horton (left) presents a check in support of God's Marketplace to Chairman David Toburen and director Margaret Norris.

God's Marketplace held an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new facility Friday with a large crowd of volunteers and wellwishers in attendance.

"God's Marketplace, Incorporated is a faith-based organization that aims to minister to the whole person," said board Chairman David Toburen at the opening ceremony. "GMI's main objective is to provide temporary and emergency aid, in the name of Christ, to persons living in Wilkes County and the surrounding area."

The facility has a food pantry, under the direction of Rich Seibert, which will be open for clients on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The volunteers expect to serve 70 or more people within the first month.

The thrift store is expected to open September 15 with Tena Blakey as the director.

Toburen thanked property owners Margaret and James Jones for their in-kind lease of the property. "We could not have opened this kind of facility without their kindness," he said.

Dozens of volunteers, friends, and supporters came out Friday to cut the ribbon on God's Marketplace on East Robert Toombs Avenue.

He also thanked the Board of Directors: Margaret Norris, vice president; treasurer Mandy Jackson, secretary Tena Blakey, who along with directors Rich Seibert, Laura Toburen, Carolyn Reynolds, Rev. Dr. Dini Moss, Rev. Otis Strong, Rev. and Kim Wylie, have "labored over the nuts and bolts to pull this together."

Many others helped with the project with donations, materials, and labor, Toburen said. He thanked Ronnie Cofer, Frank Spradlin, John Horton, Tommy Russell, Dianna Smith, Catherine Stoltz Barber and Bradley Barber, John Carter, Georgia Brook, Lisa Luken, Cheryl Young, Steve Albertson, and Shelly Warrenfeld.

Toburen reminded the others assembled that the food pantry and thrift store will need donations to be successful. "Donations can include, but are not limited to, working in the business, giving money on a sustained basis, donating food, taking care of the yard, cleaning the buildings." Volunteer forms are available at the facility.

"God is in charge," said First United Methodist pastor Gale Seibert at the grand opening, "and God has big ideas, and we just have to pray and findout what they are, and then trust in God that He can bring them to pass. Let's see how God can work and just explode blessings on us in Wilkes County."

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