By Aleasha Morris

ReSource Warehouse & Gallery has brought in the work of numerous talented individuals over the year.  With every step taken through our gallery, beauty abounds on all sides.  Customers are always asking “Who does all of this?”

The talents of Charles Kimso are some you will see displayed in the Artist Marketplace.  He has many pieces of furniture that have been repurposed into beautiful new creations from materials in the Warehouse.

When asked where Mr.Kimso gets his inspiration,  he stated that he grew up building furniture with his grandfather in Kenya.  Coming to the States he pursued a degree in engineering and architecture. Building artistic creations, however, became more of a driving passion when he was able to reveal his hard work to others.  Being blessed with many talents, he is also a watercolor and oil painter, doing landscaping and abstract art.

Mr. Kimso states that he is a “big time believer” in recycling and that any artist can participate in what the Warehouse offers. His goal is to “help people discover”  what a great cause this is for the women of Safe Harbor and for our environment.

Resource Warehouse is proud to  have Charles Kimso as a part of the Reuse team.  If you would like to learn more about Mr. Kimso and his art, be sure to check out the Events page for his upcoming watercolor class.

By Aleasha Morris

Recently the ReSource employees have been working  to improve their job skills by taking a course in the Lean Basics and “5S” program at Catawba Valley Community College.

This course helped to build a clear understanding among employees as to how to be professional in the work environment. It also instills ownership of the process in each person performing the task.

The “5S” program focuses on having visual order, organization, cleanliness and standardization. The results from a “5s” program are: improved profitability, efficiency, service and safety.

The “5s” categories are:

Sort – the first step in making things cleaned up and organized
Set In Order – organize, identify and arrange everything in a work area
Shine – regular cleaning and maintenance
Standardize – make it easy to maintain – simplify and standardize
Sustain -maintaining what has been accomplished

The residents of Safe Harbor feel that this program is an accomplishment in furthering their abilities to be even better workers at Resource Warehouse.

” I am able to more efficiently process tasks before I do them at work,” says Courtney. “I’m proud to have accomplish the training program.”

Tiffany also states that she has learned alot in the “5S” program. “I have a past employment of working in manufacturing, and now I am able to improve my skills in what I have learned through this certification.

This is one of the many ways in which the employees at Resource are able to be a valuable asset to the company and to our customers.

Written by Aleasha Morris

Pictured left:  Residents of Safe Harbor work hard to keep the ReSource warehouse in good order.

ReSource has become a valuable source for those who desire to be more creative.  It has managed to lend a different perspective to what can be done with the “trash” we find in our houses.  This is common knowledge among those who shop at ReSource, but what is very seldom heard about is the impact Safe Harbor Rescue Mission’s business has on its residents, who double as employees for the store.

I would like to spend a moment talking about what working at ReSource has done for me.

I do not consider myself to be a particularly creative person.  The idea of working at ReSource when it first opened presented a challenge to me when I wondered how I could be of service to customers seeking creative endeavors when I did not have a creative bone in my body.  However, I soon learned that being an employee of ReSource inspires me to be more aware of how I can create art out of everyday items. Learning this, I am able to encourage others to use their imaginations and that everyone can be creative has given my job a purpose.

I previously  felt I would never have the confidence to pursue and assist customers in a retail environment. However, working at Resource has given me the customer service skills that are required to do this, and to make that environment the best it can be. I’ve also acquired  the leadership skills that will follow me into any career path that I might choose due to being given the freedom to make decisions regarding pricing and merchandise layout.

So the next time you come into ReSource, remember that you are not only shopping for your own benefit, but for someone else to gain valuable experience and receive ample opportunity to learn from serving you.