One Man’s Treasure volunteers help clothe, empower ex-offenders

(Rockwall) July 2, 2013 – The old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” is especially true for ex-convicts who are newly on parole from prison. Often, when they are released, they don’t have an adequate wardrobe which is essential to entering the work force.

One Man’s Treasure is a non-profit organization that seeks to empower ex-offenders by offering a remedy to this problem. The staff and volunteers of OMT collect and organize donations of shoes, clothing, belts and coats. Prisoners may be referred to OMT by prison chaplains, prison ministries, area churches, the Texas Association for Ex-Offenders, and other organizations.

A man in need of clothing can call or write to One Man’s Treasure to request an application. If he will be relocating to the Dallas, Collin, Rockwall, Henderson or Kaufman counties, his application is evaluated, and if it is accepted, volunteers will notify him by mail. Once he is released, he can call the toll-free number of One Man’s Treasure to give a phone number where he can be reached. He will then discuss his clothing needs with a member of the Clothes Closet team, and then his clothing is gathered.

Each client receives 5 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, one pair of shoes, five new pairs of socks and underwear, and one t-shirt. During the winter months, clients receive a coat, hat and gloves to ensure that they are able to keep warm. Male volunteers from various areas of Dallas, called shepherds, deliver the clothes to the ex-offender. Having the appropriate clothing when seeking employment can boost a man’s confidence and can help him to develop a positive self-image.

In addition to assisting former convicts, One Man’s Treasure also seeks to clothe men who are living on the street, addicted to drugs or alcohol, and who have entered one of OMT’s adopted transition homes and are actively looking for a job.

The reputation of One Man’s Treasure has spread dramatically, and demand is at a new high. In 2011, the organization provided clothing to 488. In 2012, that number jumped to 704. As a faith-based ministry, the staff of OMT believes that God is directing new clients to them.

The mission statement of One Man’s Treasure is summed up on their website with The Story of the Starfish. It describes an elderly man watching a young boy gently tossing starfish that have been stranded on the sand back into the water. The boy explains that the starfish will die if he doesn’t. The old man argues with the boy that there are so many stranded starfish along the many miles of beach. But the young boy says, as he tosses another starfish back into the water, I made a difference to that one. In the words of One Man’s Treasure, One by one, we can make a difference. 

Currently, the organization has 96 volunteer shepherds and 103 other volunteers who gather, buy, sort, measure, mend, and inventory clothing, as well as help with data entry, newsletters, and fundraising efforts. As of October 31, 2012, their volunteers had amassed 2,685 hours of service.

And in November, with the help of many area churches, the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, and the host church, Woodcreek Church in Richardson, One Man’s Treasure sorted and distributed 1204 coats on November 18-19. Men’s, women’s, and children’s coats, along with blankets, scarves, and hats were among the donations. A total of 37 volunteers sorted coats by size, gender, and need. The following organizations received the coats for distribution by Monday afternoon: Angel Recovery House, Austin Street Shelter, Crossroads Community Services, and Exodus Ministries for women and children, One Man’s Treasure, Vickery Meadow Ministry for refugee families, and Freeman’s Homeless Ministry.

One Man’s Treasure relies on fundraisers and donations to keep their operation running. They are always in need of volunteers and donations. Items that are always in demand include: shoes (dress and athletic), washable pants with an inseam of 32 or longer, dress socks and 2X-5X washable shirts (dress or casual).

As a non-profit, One Man’s Treasure relies solely on the support of individuals, churches, and private foundations to provide operational funding for its ministry. If you would like to help participate with a one-time gift of any amount and/or make a monthly donation pledge, you can mail a donation check to: 519 Interstate 30 E #211, Rockwall, TX 75087.

To learn more about volunteering, visit onemanstr.org.

Submitted by Mary Thacker.

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  clothing, ex-offenders, one man’s treasure, prison