About us

we see the best in others
Our Mission

To provide employment for persons living with mental illness in hopes of helping them to achieve independence and self-respect.

Our Value

Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith in God.

Donna Howard Founder Executive Director Holding Hands

Donna Howard

Founder Executive Director
Excellence Record

Donna Howard is the founder of Holding Hands Resale Shop. She retired from a full-time radiology career to begin a non-profit thrift store to give her daughter, who has paranoid schizophrenia, a job. Donna had a desire to provide jobs for mentally ill individuals in a safe work environment where they could reach their greatest potential. Holding Hands has been a blessing to the Lafayette-Oxford-University Community and to the employees that it has served. She is quick to give all the credit to the Lord who has made it all possible.

Contact Us
Our team
Julia Williams Community Outreach Director Board Member Holding Hands

Julia Williams

Community Outreach Director
Trip Farris Truck Dispatcher Board member Holding Hands

Trip Farris

Truck Dispatcher
Jenny Crowson Store Manager Holding Hands

Jenny Crowson

Store Manager
Kristen Cauley Board Member

Kristen Cauley

Board President
Kelly Weems Board Vice President

Kelly Weems

Board Vice President
Bill Beckwith Board Member Holding Hands

Bill Beckwith

Board Member
Emily Morrison Board Member

Emily Morrison

Board Member
Leslie Brooks Board Member

Leslie Brooks

Board Member
Sue Hale Board Member

Sue Hale

Board Member
Our Staff
What they've said about us
Listen, this isn’t a corporate run operation. They have limited space, staff, and resources, but they are a million times better than Goodwill. These kind folks are doing their part to serve the community. The prices fluctuate, the inventory fluctuates, parking can be tricky, but their mission remains the same. Give them a shot. Go as often as you can because the good deals don’t last long. Great folks here.
Joseph Phillips
Local Guide
This is a great shop. Lots to find, great prices. I've been a regular for years, and they've done a great job to make it less cluttered, (they don't have a lot of space), and the prices have gone way down from where they were. I love it, and regularly visit and donate.
Tiedyed Owl
Tiedyed Owl
Google Review