Bakersfield.com reports on the Name Your Price Store run to benefit our local Boys & Girls Club. Now it's "stores" plural with two that just opened in Bakersfield:
Assaly runs what could loosely be called a chain of three thrift stores. At two of them, merchandise has no price tag. Customers just make an offer, and it's usually accepted.
..."People keep asking me who we're affiliated with," he said. "The only agency or organization we benefit is the human race."
Assaly, 53, sees the new store as part of an informal Christian ministry that he says is nothing short of miraculous, in the literal sense of the word.
I didn't name him, Courtenay Edelhart did. "The guy that started the Name Your Price Store" doesn't like to be named in reporting about his efforts and once had me scrub the best part of a story I wrote about the local store because he was in it. He just points to his volunteers and says "They're the ones doing it" and he means it. Here are just some of the comments at Bakersfield.com with which I wholeheartedly agree:
"Wow, I love this idea! This is the ultimate 'recycling'....giving away useful items and keeping them out of the landfills. And, helping people.....this is the best!"
"In todays society with the 'me first' mentality, I am very moved at this story. Thank you Dave."
"straight from the heart,Assaly,thank you for your heartfelt giving to those less fortunate.GOD BLESS U ONE-HUNDRED FOLD."
"Assaly, thank you for helping serve the community. I am also appalled by the goods that people and businesses throw away."
"I've known Dave and Alice for years and can say they have the biggest hearts of anyone I know.
I bought a house next door to them about 7 years ago and the first person that came by that day was Dave. He helped us unload our truck and we have been friends until this very day. I've seen first hand the love and compassion this man has in his heart. One time a woman had a water heater go bad and she came to Dave asking if he knew of anyone who could help? He got on his cell and with in an hour he had a used working water heater and had it installed with in the day free of charge."
Now head down to Lebec and give them some business! Not only do they need it, they deserve it.
