The Trinity Without Borders Area Resource Center and Re-Store has proudly reopened its doors to the public in Big Pine Key, ready to serve the community with renewed vigor. A ribbon-cutting event was held the evening of Sept. 16 to commemorate the milestone, and executive director Vallerie Claar was ecstatic about the event turnout.
“The community showed up and showed out,” said Claar. “We had offers to help with upgrades of the inside mechanical systems, offers to help in our outside Serenity Garden and the local church reached out in regard to our emergency relief program. We are also assembling an art team to create a mural on the side of the donation station bus. I felt the threads of a safety net winding through the people that will bring us closer together.”
As a non-profit 501(c)(3) Community Organization Active in Disasters (COAD) in Florida, Trinity Without Borders was established in 2006 to provide vital emergency relief: food, housing, donations and essential resources. The organization has a rich history in Big Pine Key, having previously operated from 2007 to 2012 at the Seahorse RV Park near the Avenues and then later at the local Big Pine Key Flea Market. With its reopening, Trinity Without Borders is excited to once again be a beacon of hope and assistance for the local community.
A treasure trove of new and gently used goods, all at incredibly affordable prices, line the shelves of the resource center. Moreover, the organization distributes certain donations free of charge to those in dire need. Trinity Without Borders is continually seeking to expand its offerings and welcomes volunteers with open arms.
“We are always looking for volunteers to help us out,” said Claar. “We need people to help with disaster relief sign ups, donation sorting, staging and pricing of donated items that will be sold and distributed, help in the Serenity Garden, help with the bus mural – and just those that can make good coffee.”
Trinity Without Borders is actively involved in a diverse range of initiatives, from providing critical emergency and disaster relief to offering educational and health-related programs, such as CPR and first aid classes. The organization also hosts recreational workshops focused on hobbies and crafts, supports small business startups and much more. A wealth of donations and distributions awaits, including new and used goods like furniture, toiletries, artwork, marine supplies and essential household items.
“We assist the community by having a large umbrella of services and resources, but also by caring that people are safe and okay,” said Claar. “Sometimes people need help and they are too shy to ask for it. Maybe a person they love has cancer and is out of work and needs rental or utility assistance. If we don’t have the funds in hand, we connect them with those who do. We had a local person bring an elderly woman here who was in the early stages of dementia (and) would forget what happened yesterday. She had substantial income, yet was afraid of where she was living and very vulnerable. We were able to bring the Adult Protective Services here and she willingly went into a safe, caring living situation. It’s all about helping one person or family at a time.”
Trinity Without Borders Inc. is committed to providing indispensable support and services to those in need. The Area Resource Center, affectionately known as The ARC, is a cornerstone facility of the organization. Nestled at 1668 Bogie Road, off Watson Blvd. in Big Pine Key, the ARC has always been dedicated to promoting homeownership and eradicating food insecurity. Their mission is to assist neighbors and Keys residents in achieving sustainability, whatever their specific needs may be. For more information, call 786-627-1915.