On Saturday, Operation Blessing hosted its grand opening in Keysville for a new standalone location on Four Locust Highway.

According to Chairman Tom Reeves, the store will be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon and will carry a wide variety of clothing, household items and appliances for a nominal fee.

All of the items being sold are donations and the operation is run by a group of volunteers.

“We are trying to help the needs of the community,” Reeves said. He said there are people in the county who may need assistance to get going, and the goal of Operation Blessing is to help those individuals.

Susan Dunn, volunteer, said she was inspired to help out with the cause because it was very dear to her heart.

Dunn said she was previously approached by a friend who could not afford to pay his light bill and needed assistance. “My husband and I got some money and gave it to him,” she said. “We helped him and I got him in touch with some other people, took up donations and got his light bill paid.”

Based on that experience, Dunn was inspired to give back to the community. “It just touched my heart,” she said.

Operation Blessing is currently located at 756 Four Locust Highway across from Keysville Building Supply. The organization is seeking individuals, churches, etc., to be a part of the initiative.

For those interested, monthly meetings are held at the Operation Blessing building on the second Monday of the month.