Carpenter’s Corner opens Friday
Three days before grand opening, Kelly Whitham stepped out of her office onto a newly refurbished and fully stocked sales floor. “I stand here and look around and it kind of takes my breath away,” she said. Kelly is director of retail operations for Carpenter’s Place,...
Crime, punishment … and a better story
In fall 2015, Rickey Claybron and two other men violently robbed three Rockford retail stores and attempted to rob another. They pointed guns at store clerks and customers while stealing cigarettes and cash. Two store employees were struck with the guns and one was...
Angel Tree opportunity grows
When you spot the familiar Angel Tree in our church lobby on Sunday, you may notice something. It’s bigger. That’s because First Free has embraced the program so enthusiastically in recent years that this Christmas we’re taking on more local kids than ever – 85 in...
New Life for an Old Store
The new Carpenter’s Corner Thrift & More store, which will benefit Carpenter’s Place ministry to people experiencing homelessness, is scheduled to open in January. First Free will support the new store by collecting donated items on Dec. 10 during Christmas...
