FROM STAFF REPORTS

On Feb. 1, the Shelby County-based King’s Home announced its acquisition of The Jimmie Hale Mission’s Mission Possible thrift ministry, which includes thrift stores in Eastwood, Pinson and Hanceville.

“This opportunity came at a time when the leadership of The Jimmie Hale Mission felt the Lord leading our ministry in a different direction,” said Tony Cooper, executive director of The Jimmie Hale Mission. “We are excited to be handing over our three thrift stores into the care of King’s Home.”

King’s Home had been evaluating ways to promote their new Better Bin Initiative. The Better Bins are collection receptacles located around central Alabama that collect gently used items. Now, all items collected through the bins as well as items donated to King’s Home will be sold at these three thrift stores called “King’s Home Thrift -The Better Stores.”

“King’s Home is thrilled to partner with Jimmie Hale Mission in acquiring their three Birmingham metropolitan area stores in Eastwood, Pinson and Hanceville,” said Lew Burdette, president of the King’s Home. “We look forward to serving these communities with great service and thrift product for years to come.”

King’s Home said the acquisition is important, as the organization continues to “work to recoup the devasting loss of revenue from America’s Thrift Stores after they canceled the 30-year contract with King’s Home in 2017.”

“In 2012, America’s Thrift Stores was bought out by a San Francisco venture capital group who decided in 2017 to stop funding the King’s Home ministry that helps abused youth, moms and kids. This was a tremendous loss to King’s Home,” read a King’s Home statement.

“Losing $750,000 in funding was a heartbreaking disappointment, especially for our residents who need help the most, but God has blessed us with this opportunity to begin recouping some of this lost revenue,” Burdette said. “The public needs know that now 100 percent of their donations go to King’s Home because in the past the America’s Thrift Stores kept a large majority of the profits.”

King’s Home owns 22 residential group homes on six campuses in four Birmingham area counties of Jefferson, Shelby, Blount and Tuscaloosa.

King’s Home provides essential services to abused youth, moms and children fleeing domestic violence so that they can find hope, opportunity and a way to start over in safe, loving home