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Tuesday May 11, 2010 Edition
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Sharing A Zest For Community: Meet The Women Of Bakery Lane

Whether it is a special occasion dress or a gift for the a great friend, come and see the store and meet the great ladies of Bakery Lane that make Neat Repeats a success!
photo provided
Whether it is a special occasion dress or a gift for the a great friend, come and see the store and meet the great ladies of Bakery Lane that make Neat Repeats a success!
With designer clothing, every day wear and whimsical items for every age, Neat Repeats Resale Shop is a great place to visit and shop.
photo provided
With designer clothing, every day wear and whimsical items for every age, Neat Repeats Resale Shop is a great place to visit and shop.

Tuesday May 11, 2010

By Cookie Steponaitis

    Tucked away down a side street in Middlebury, Vermont, between the Ben Franklin Store and the flowing waters of the Otter Creek is Neat Repeats Resale Shop. Since 1990 this volunteer non-profit organization has quietly been serving the needs of Addison County one item and one donation at a time. At the helm of this remarkable effort are directors Linda Waterman, Diane Howlett and Volunteer Coordinator Loretta Green, who oversee the operation that collects items and clothing for resale, and then directs the funds raised back to the community in the form of grants. Fifty volunteers make up the staff and the women of Bakery Lane are all driven by one common goal and passion to “…help the places, organizations and individuals that can’t find help elsewhere.” And help they do!

    Since 1990 Neat Repeats has sold more than three million dollars in merchandise and has provided 1,624,000 dollars in grants back to Addison County. With the underpinning philosophy that “…every shift has value and every volunteer plays a part,” the women of Neat Repeats are quick to highlight the volunteers who help them run the resale shop Monday-Saturday from 9:30-4:30 and perform tasks that include sorting clothing, handling merchandise, decorating and rotating stock, running the cash register, or personally taking items to other non-profits that can benefit from them. One special volunteer is Ms. Irene Hart, who at the age of ninety has the distinct privilege of being Neat Repeats oldest volunteer and one of its longest serving. In addition to Irene, Sybil Sheehy and Hannah Powell round out the oldest members of the volunteer staff and like all who work at Neat Repeats are as devoted and dependable. “For some of our volunteers, this is their second home and a social gathering spot,” remarked Diane Howlett. “They are very dedicated to what we do together here and arrange appointments and schedules so that they can keep their shifts. We even have some devoted shoppers who come in daily or twice a week to see the new merchandise and keep up with the newest items we have in stock.”

    One is immediately struck upon entering Neat Repeats by the care and the expertise that is evidenced by the way the resale shop is laid out. Colorful and cleverly arranged , the products ranging from designer clothes, work clothes, specialty clothing, personal items, pottery, and more are displayed in a manner that welcomes the shopper and lets you know that the sorting and prioritizing has been done for you. The quality is high, the mood is light and the mission is solid. All proceeds directly benefit the people and programs of Addison County. “You name it and over the years we have probably had a grant for it,” remarked Linda Waterman. “When we were first getting started, we were counseled by others who were in the non-profit business that the bottom line is to only stock what will sell. Our goal is to get funds back into the community and we do.”

    The lists of grant recipients touch every facet and corner of Addison County and include programs that benefit people of all ages and levels of need. While there are specific individual projects that have gained special recognition, the bulk of Neat Repeats funding falls into the categories of  family emergency assistance, elderly services, scholarships, food shelves and educational opportunities. Others on the list annually include fire departments, civic projects including libraries, hockey rinks, the Vermont Symphony Outreach program for schools and the annual Middlebury tradition of Festival on the Green. In addition, Neat Repeats provides annual scholarships to graduating seniors from Middlebury Union, Mount Abraham and Vergennes Union High School. “Over a ten year period,” remarked Linda Waterman, “we donated $ 50,000 to the capital campaign for the building of the Project Independence new site. I think people will be surprised just how many places the money from Neat Repeats goes.”

    One fact that has not escaped the immediate community is that the months of September and October are the busiest months for Neat Repeats and their staff. They have a vast collection of Halloween costuming and outfits and Addison County residents descend on the store to outfit themselves for Halloween. “I can’t tell you just how many people come into our store and tell us, ‘I got just what I wanted,” shared Loretta Green. When asked what they wanted the community to know about Neat Repeats, both directors wanted people to come in and see what the store does. “Come and see what we are doing in the community,” Diane Howlett suggested. “We are always looking for volunteers, quality merchandise and clothing and love to share what Neat Repeats stands for.”

        While the organization certainly can not fill every grant request that comes to their doorstep and it often breaks the heart of the volunteers to read some of the letters and hear the stories of what people have to struggle through, Neat Repeats has reached out in a memorable way since 1990, providing revenue through sales, that are turned around and reinvested in the people, organizations of Addison County. Bound together by a strong work ethic, a passion for people, and a desire to use their talents to make a measurable difference, directors Linda Waterman, Diane Howlett and volunteer coordinator Loretta Green are quick to shun  a focus on their roles in the organization.  For them, as for the other volunteers, Neat Repeats is a story about people making a decision to impact the lives of others through work, community and effort. While the economy, the loss of the Champlain Bridge, parking issues and downtown construction have all impacted Neat Repeats revenues this year, the group is on track and continues  to help as many people and programs as possible.

      There is energy present in the shop that is tangible with the first opening of the door. It presents itself in the carefully tagged items, the wonderfully colorful and playful designs of objects and in the faces of the women who operate the store and help you to shop. While this reporter was putting away equipment and getting ready to leave Neat Repeats, the flow of conversation in the back room switched to the week ahead and the coming busy summer coordination of the volunteers and special projects.  Amidst the serious planning and scheduling there was a camaraderie and jovial attitude that exemplifies the long-term bonds and friendships of the women of Bakery Lane. “I wish I had some great slogan for you,” remarked Linda Waterman, when queried about what makes Neat Repeats tick. “The truth is we just want to help.”
The truth is they do help at so many levels that it is hard to count and Neat Repeats continues on with a mission started in 1990 of making a difference in the community. What defines the organization and the women who run it is a commitment to excellence, service and community which is carried out one item, one sale, and one grant at a time. From the hearts of the valley and the staff of the Valley Voice, THANK YOU for believing that the world is a place filled with possibility and change and for twenty continual years of service to those around you.

   To those of you who have yet to experience shopping or volunteering at Neat Repeats, what are you waiting for? Take a walk down Main Street in Middlebury and turn into the alley that runs beside Ben Franklin and along the bank of the Otter Creek. Tucked down two flights of stairs is a shop with more than just quality merchandise for all shapes and sizes. There is a core of women directors and volunteers committed to providing a rewarding and inviting experience for the shopper as well as a tradition of service that spans decades and has impacted thousands. As Winston Churchill reminded the world in 1945, “You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.” The Valley Voice celebrates the efforts, drive and excellence of Neat Repeats and the women of Bakery Lane.


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