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Lancaster couple starts outreach mission

2ND CHANCES:

March 03, 2012|By¿STEPHANIE¿MOJICA | smojica@amnews.com

LANCASTER — Brandy Marshall knows what it’s like to lose everything to a fire, which spurred her to start a thrift store and outreach organization designed to give others “2nd Chances.”

On Tuesday, the Harvest Market will hold its grand opening at 112 Lexington St. The store is designed to sell clothing, furniture, toys and household goods to lower-income families. Marshall, her husband Jason and volunteers also run a food and clothes pantry from the building through the 2nd Chances outreach organization.

The building has four apartments that the Marshalls and volunteers are renovating. Two will be rented out to help fund the building’s costs, and the other two will serve as temporary housing for homeless families. Marshall hopes the renovations will be done soon so she can start housing people in need.

Rodney Floyd of Waynesburg is a 2nd Chances volunteer as well as a member of the band Krysis, which will play at the grand opening.

“This outreach is a godsend for people in the community,” Floyd said. “There are some people in real need and not many opportunities for these people to get help. I’m grateful that someone like Brandy cares so much.”

Marshall has worked 12 to 18 hours a day since January, renovating the apartments and also preparing the Harvest Market storefront. She’s already been able to help about a dozen families get birthday gifts for their children.

“I’m praying we can open the apartments soon, because recently about three dozen local families were homeless due to fire,” Marshall said. “I really would like to help some of them get a place to stay.”

Lancaster Mayor Brenda Powers said Garrard County has a need for the services Marshall plans to offer, especially emergency housing.

“Brandy really cares for other people, and I think it’s wonderful,” Powers said. “We’ve never had any kind of shelter in¿Garrard County and I’m glad to see her interested in filling this need as well as bringing a new business to the area.”

To raise money for 2nd Chances, Marshall will be raffling off an outhouse used by “Turtleman” on the Animal Planet show “Call of the Wildman.” Cast members from the show will be attending the grand opening to give autographs. Marshall declined to comment on whether Ernie Brown Jr., a.k.a. Turtleman, will be present at the grand opening.

For more information about Harvest Market or 2nd Chances, call (859) 329-8515. Emergency help will be available around-the-clock. Harvest Market hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

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