Local non-profit charity provides veteran with new home
By James Kmosko
The Chronicle-based non-profit LOV Thrift Store has provided a new place to live for a veteran and her family.
The US Navy veteran, Nhatisha Sturgis, had been living in a travel trailer with her children and several pets at Cross Country Campground, located on NC-150 in Chronicle.
The trailer had been battered over the years by the elements, eventually facing severe damage.
According to Gini Popko, co-founder and store manager at LOV, the trailer had become unsafe for the veteran and her family to live in.
“It was seriously dangerous,” Gini said. “The roof was caving in, there was water everywhere … an outlet caught on fire.”
Images of the trailer show exposed wire and rotting wood.
Gini said that when she learned of the condition of the trailer, she immediately began searching for a solution.
“I said we’ve gotta find something,” Gini said. “For me, being a mom, safety was the first issue.”
LOV initially looked into renovating the trailer, but quickly decided that it was more trouble than it was worth.
Instead, LOV began to search for a new trailer to replace the old one. The charity spent approximately fifteen thousand dollars to buy a like-new Cherokee travel trailer.
The Chronicle rode along with LOV when they delivered and installed the trailer.
Several volunteers from LOV’s team delivered and installed the trailer before signing the title over to Sturgis, who repeatedly expressed her excitement and gratitude.
“It was the easiest process,” Sturgis said. “They were welcoming, [Gini] was right on it. It wasn’t a bunch of ‘let me get this together, let me verify this, let me do that.’ It was, ‘we’ve gotta help you now.’ It was a breath of fresh air not to have to worry about [it]. She got right back to me, and we started talking, there were no problems. They’re just amazing people.”
The majority of LOV’s funding comes from purchases at the thrift store location on the corner of NC-150 and NC-16.
“We’re able to do all of this because of the support of the community,” Gini said. “Shopping at the store is fabulous. Donations are our bread and butter. Any businesses that are looking to write off a donation, please consider us. Cash donations go directly to a veteran.”
As for Sturgis, she says she is looking forward to making the new place her home.
“I love it, and I’m so happy that there’s places out there that will help veterans without looking at them funny, or whatever they have in their history or background,” Sturgis said. “They’re just there to help, and we need more people like that. I’m amazed, and I’m so excited.”