We are excited about this year’s Let Goodness Shine clothing drive, Warm Hearts & Homes, to benefit the House of Mercy in Manassas, VA. This drive is part our Good Work Project — an ongoing effort to support the Let Goodness Shine mission — to amplify Joel’s legacy and help those less fortunate.
We chose to partner with the House of Mercy because of A) their results and B) the manner in which they operate and excel — displaying excellence in pursuit of their mission.
Explained in terms that relate to private sector:
- They are revenue producing — they don’t just rely on donations to fuel their mission.
- Their Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy is fantastic and allows them to punch well above their weight as an independent charity
- Donor/Volunteer Care programs are out of this world.
Revenue Generator
House of Mercy doesn’t rely solely on donations to fund their operations — they generate revenue. From 2019 – 2023, almost 13% of their financial support came from sales of used clothes in their thrift store.
Beyond a physical thrift store, they also operate an online store. The best part is that 100% of store proceeds go toward feeding people in need!
Go-To-Market
Dollar for dollar, the House of Mercy does as well or better at positioning, marketing, partnering, and PR as probably 99% of startup ventures in the private sector.
This is called having an effective Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy — a sometimes overused buzz phrase to describe how a business reach more people, generates more interest, and raises more money. Ultimately, you want to become a household name, create buzz, get media attention and ultimately earn praise and keep people coming back.
To have an effective GTM, you generally either need 1) a lot of money and people, or 2) an incredibly creative marketing, sales and PR engine — always thinking outside the box. The House of Mercy is the latter — leveraging every “free” resource available to get their message out. From podcasts, to interviews on local news stations and news articles, they get their name out there. In July, Northern Virginia Magazine wrote about a creative House of Mercy initiative Christmas in July. Free advertising is the best advertising.
As a nonprofit, with 93¢ of every dollar going toward their programs, they have no choice but to be creative and think outside the box.
Donor and Volunteer Care
Donor and Volunteer Care is essentially the equivalent of Customer Success (CS) in the private sector. The CS team makes sure customers are satisfied enough to renew and buy more — that’s their ultimate goal. The program leverages relationship-building through multiple touch points — a combination of things like email, events, meetings and more.
The House of Mercy’s creative donor and volunteer activities and events help drive a very active volunteer base.
Over the past year some of their creative events have been:
- Annual Donor Appreciation Breakfast
- High Tea – Tea Tasting Event
- Mercy Fest – A music festival which includes food trucks, wine tasting, and other family fun
- Open House – an opportunity for donors and volunteers to tour their facility
They even welcome minors, ages 12-15 (accompanied by an adult) to volunteer. This is not norm as Monica learned when seeking volunteer opportunities for the kids at a young age.
Christmas with Mercy
Currently underway is their Christmas with Mercy program. It’s an incredible, and incredibly moving program for donors, volunteers, and recipients alike.
Bringing joy to over 1300 children and helping to alleviate the financial strain on families struggling during the holiday season. Through this initiative, we provide hope and a sense of normalcy, ensuring that every child can experience the magic of Christmas.
“This year has been one of the most difficult in my life as a mother,” she said, tears in her eyes. “I want my kids to be happy and not feel the pressure of what I’m going through.”
The joy of giving her children gifts restored a sense of normalcy during this turbulent time.— House of Mercy 2024 Annual Report
2024 Results
In general, their operational results speak volumes. The House of Mercy Executive Director, Jessica Root, summarizes this way in their 2024 annual report.
As we reflect on another incredible year at House of Mercy, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support of our community. This
report highlights the impactful work we’ve accomplished together, from providing essential services to those in need, to strengthening our partnerships and volunteer
network. Your contributions have made all the difference, and we look forward to continuing this journey of compassion and service. Thank
you for being part of our mission.Jessica Root – Executive Director House of Mercy
Their annual Back to School program is also worth mentioning, serving 391 children with needed school supplies and saving the average household $637.
Supporting House of Mercy
As a community fund, Let Goodness Shine is proud of its support for the House of Mercy. Because what they do matters to the people who need help and demonstrates a model of excellence — not just to other nonprofits, but to private sector businesses as well.
If you would like to support the House of Mercy, you can do so directly by visiting their website.
You can also support them by supporting Let Goodness Shine by contributing to the Let Goodness Shine fund, following us on Facebook or Instagram, or subscribing to our site for updates and posts.
Thank you to Jessica, the House of Mercy team, volunteers and donors for the excellence you bring to this mission.
One response to “LGS House of Mercy Clothing Drive”
[…] of Mercy Clothing DriveIn December, we held a clothing drive to benefit the House of Mercy as part of our Good Works Project. The results of our drive was impressive with over 20 families […]