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Church, Community Pour Donations Into Mission Field

    Many in our area are familiar with the new Orphan’s Rock Thrift Store that opened last year in Eustis. It is in the location of the former Badcock’s Furniture at 400 North Grove Street in Eustis and is always busy. What they may not be familiar with is how many missions are receiving help from this First Baptist Church of Umatilla outreach.  
        We talked with Pastor James Gardner this week. He is a member of the church’s leadership and had just concluded a meeting with the church’s missions committee that stewards the outreach’s resources.
    He was able to share the current updates with us, including numbers from 2024:  FBCU gave a total (including Orphan’s Rock funds) over $650,000 to missions. Orphan’s Rock contributed $200,000 of the $650,000 and 2025: FBCU gave a total (including the Orphan’s Rock) of over $500,000 to missions. Orphan’s Rock contributed over $100,000 of the $500,000.  
    These are surprisingly high numbers given the average cost of many items in the store. Many of the thrift items are just a  few dollars. Local residents that experiences emergencies such as house fires or domestic abuse relocations are often given clothing, shoes, and household items at no charge.
    With the support of the Lake County Community, Orphan’s Rock has been able to fund countless outreaches around the globe since 2009 when it was founded. Ownership  of the mission was transferred to FBCU in 2018. All outreach is targeted to orphans and children in desperate need.
    During our interview, we learned that there are many missions receiving annual help from the thrift store around the globe, too many to list, in fact. Highlights included Hope’s Children’s Home in Tampa, who received $105,000 over the last three years, Bundles of Hope, One More Child  (Florida Baptist Children’s Home) in Lakeland, Adam’s Kids Trade  School in Guatemala, Children’s Outreach in India, Reaching Muslims for Christ in Iraq and Jordan, Hope for a Child - Malawi   and more.
    In Malawi, the donations have made a  big difference by building a church, community center, and more. In a recent project, Victory Christian Nursery & Primary School in Uganda has been able to repair and continue to construct classroom and dorm space for orphans.
    In Bolivia, students have been blessed with the Bolivia Life Center, and wells have been dug in cooperation with Reach South Asia. The projects go on and on both locally and overseas.
    The church has high hopes of what else can be accomplished in the future, as they have purchased a permanent location for the store as of April 2025 and are no longer renting space. They are making haste in paying off the mortgage on the building and are excited about how farther the support will go once the mortgage is satisfied.
    The Orphan’s Rock Thrift Store is run primarily by a small army of volunteers numbering around 60 people. There is one paid staff member in charge of the store and its regular hours which are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    In addition to selling lightly used items, the store offers periodic Bible Study and even musical worship courtesy of volunteer musicians.  Many volunteers come two hours early to the store and clean inventory and some stay late to have it well prepared for the next day.  All lightly used household donations are welcome at the drop off dock at the back door during regular store hours. The store sells dishes, puzzles, toys, clothes, shoes, furniture, tools, electronics, bikes, and more.  If you would like to know more or would like to make a donation, give them a call at (352) 383-1104.
    It is amazing how much is being accomplished by this ministry outreach for children and their families around the world.