Valerie Lee wants people to come see what’s happening at Second Hand Heros, a nonprofit organization that offers everything from clothing to bedding to home goods and more to anyone who needs it.
And, yes, Lee knows Heros is misspelled, but there’s a reason for it.
“The name I wanted with the correct spelling was already taken, so we spelled it this way,” she said. “It wasn’t until later that it dawned on me that ‘heros’ are sandwiches!”
The group is holding a fashion show called “This is Us” to raise funds and to raise awareness about the group.
Lee, who runs the group, said the fashion show also is a way to show off the items the group has to give away.
“I don’t want people to think the stuff we have isn’t good, isn’t decent, just because it’s free,” she said. “We have nice things, and we want to show that.”
The fashion show will begin at noon Saturday, July 22, at the First United Methodist Church, 113 Grand Ave., in Festus. Admission is $10 per person, with children younger than 12 admitted free. There will be a 50/50 raffle and door prize raffle.
“Advance ticket buyers get a free ticket for the door prize raffle,” Lee said. “Hopefully, people will come out and see the show and raise a little money to help us out.”
Tickets are available in person at Second Hand Heros, 115 Mississippi Ave., in Crystal City, or by Venmo @secondhandheros.
Proceeds will benefit the organization, which offers free help to those in need.
“We get people who lost everything in a fire, victims of domestic violence, people who just can’t make it for whatever reason,” Lee said. “I won’t turn anyone away; I couldn’t do that.”
Some sandwich!
Following the loss of her son in 1997 to sudden infant death, Lee, 51, of Festus spent 20 years volunteering with a number of charities in the St. Louis area. She ended up with a program called Helping Hand-Me-Downs, which provides help for families with children.
“I thought it was a wonderful idea, and I thought we needed something like it here so people don’t have to drive up to St. Louis,” she said.
Lee found a Jefferson County location and started the process of opening a chapter, but wasn’t content with some of the limitations placed on the group by funding sources.
“The grant they had, there were stipulations about only serving women and children, limiting the amount you could give any one person, geographic area restrictions,” she said. “I wanted to expand it to help anybody. I thought, ‘Hey; I’ve got experience at nonprofits; I’ve just never run one. How tough can it be?’ Ha!”
In 2019, with help from mentors at Helping-Hand-Me-Downs, Lee organized Second Hand Heros, paying the $275 fee to file for 501c3 status out of her own pocket.
She persuaded the landlord to give her a discount on rent and started soliciting donations and holding fundraisers for everything down to toilet paper and light bulbs.
“Then COVID hit, and I couldn’t go out and talk to sponsors or do any fundraising,” she said. “So we moved it into our home.”
Lee and her husband, Kevin, crammed their stock into their mobile home, leaving just a small path to get around. They took pictures and posted items to Facebook, making appointments for people to come one at a time.
“We got some backlash,” she said. “People said I’m a hoarder and needed to cut up my credit cards. But other people came back with what a great idea it is, what a great job we’re doing, and that felt good.”
Back in business
With the pandemic winding down, Archway Contractors in the St. Louis area contacted Lee with an offer to help.
“They love what we do,” she said. “They cover the $325 rent for the building. We’re already outgrowing the space, but we’re not going to find something at this price anywhere else. My wish is to find someone to sponsor us for a bigger location. That would be ideal.”
By February of 2021, the group was back up and running.
“We’ve been blessed with an amazing amount and quality of donations that come in,” Lee said. “We get a lot of name brand, a lot of brand new stuff.”
The Jefferson Foundation recently provided the group with a $5,000 grant, which Lee said will help with program costs.
“We have an elderly couple that sends us a monthly check for $25 to help out,” she said. “The Pastime Club in Imperial is a sponsor, and we have signed up Brain Station daycare (in Crystal City) to cover the cost of a dumpster we have to have. We have a recycling company that will pick up what’s not usable and sell it by the pound.”
Second Hand Heros, which has no paid employees, collects new and gently used clothing, cookware and other kitchen equipment, bedding, household supplies, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and more.
“We don’t have the space for furniture,” Lee said. “But we keep a list of people who have furniture to donate, and we can match them up with people who need it.”
Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday or by appointment.
“But we are flexible, and normally I’m there after hours,” Lee said. “We’ll do evening or weekend appointments. We always do a prom and homecoming drive, and we have Santa come every year.”
Help is given no matter who you are or where you live, Lee said, and the only questions asked are for a contact name and phone number.
“The sign-in sheet helps us track how many we serve,” Lee explained. “It’s generally 35-40 people per day and that’s not counting kids. There are no criteria at all. Just walk in the door and tell us what you need.”
The organization partners with Nurses for Newborns for help with diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.
From client to volunteer
Those who get help from Second Hand Heros often stick around to give back.
Michelle Gebhardt, 47, of Festus spent 35 days in the hospital last year with a bacterial infection, undergoing dialysis and transfusions.
“I lost my job, and when I came out of the hospital we had no idea how long it’d be before I could work again,” she said. “Valerie was able to help me out with a walker, a cane, some food.
“Due to my kidneys not working properly, I had swelled up and nothing fit me. It was going to be tough to afford to buy clothes. So it was a great resource for me to be able to go in and find nice clothes that fit me. Honestly, some of the stuff from her shop is nicer than what I would’ve been able to afford on my own.”
Gebhardt now volunteers at the shop, like many former clients.
“Even if they can’t come in and work, once they get back on their feet, they try to bring in the things they know are needed most,” she said. “It’s a very inviting atmosphere, with a couch and chairs to sit in and lots of signs about hope and faith.
“Nobody makes you feel down or less. It’s a place that makes people feel better about themselves and have hope. It feels like help and not a handout.”