05/07/2026
This week we welcomed guest speaker Charlie Davis with The Ecumenical Storehouse.
The Ecumenical Storehouse was established in 1984 and is operated by all volunteers on a rotating basis by 11 local congregations. The Storehouse accepts, stores and distributes almost every type of household good - essentially everything a person would need to set up a small living quarters, except for food and clothes. Most of the clients served by the Storehouse live in Anderson County, but clients also come from Roane, Campbell, Morgan, and Scott.
Many clients are from among the vast number of Appalachian poor in the area; some have lost everything in a fire or storm, while others find themselves in abusive situations and need emergency assistance to establish a new home. All are in need, and they have nowhere else to turn for the service the Storehouse provides.
Clients must be referred to the Storehouse by a government or social service agency, or a local church, with knowledge of their situation. Clients are served regardless of race, faith, gender or handicap.
How people can help:
1. Donate goods
They accept almost any household furniture/items that can be used in a typical home. Some examples are below:
Furniture:
🛋️ couches, chairs, recliners, coffee tables, end tables, area rugs
🪑 kitchen table & chairs
🛏️ beds, mattresses, chest of drawers, dressers, mirrors
📕 small desks, bookcases
Lighting: floor and desk lamps
📺 Working TVs (though we do not need any of the large, deep TVs)
Kitchen:
🍽️
plates, cereal bowls, silverware, glasses, cups, mugs, dessert plates, serving bowls, platters
utensils, mixing bowls, storage containers
pots and pans, casserole dishes, cookie sheets, pie pans, loaf pans, cake pans
Small kitchen appliances: microwaves, coffee pots, toasters, electric skillets, mixers, crock pots, blenders, food processors
Linens and such:
🛌
bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, bath mats
dish towels and dish cloths
sheets, blankets, bed spreads, mattress covers
Small appliances:
heaters, fans and window air-conditioning units, vacuum cleaners, microwaves
Large appliances: refrigerators, free-standing stoves, washing machines, dryers
Current need:
• Bed Frames/Mattresses/Box Springs
• Bedding (Queen, Full, Twin, XL Twin, King)
• Microwaves
• Dressers/Chest of Drawers/Other similar items
• Small Dining Tables
• Lamps (table or floor)
• Lamp shades (all sizes)
• Smart TVs
• Small appliances
Donations not currently needed:
• Living room chairs (Recliners are OK)
• Ottomans/Footstools
• Medical beds
• China cabinets/ Display cabinets
• Large desks
• Glass top tables
• Sleeper sofas
• Gas appliances
• Plumbing items
• Broken/smelly/damaged items
2. Make a monetary donation by sending a check by mail, payable to Ecumenical Storehouse, to:
Ecumenical Storehouse
P. O. Box 7057
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-7057
You can also make a monetary donation on our page, https://www.facebook.com/ecumstore/, or by using the donation form on this site.
3. Volunteer
If you have free time and would like to volunteer, please call them at (865) 481-0274 . If they don’t answer, please leave a message with your name and phone number. They need all kinds of volunteers at the Storehouse. They have people who answer calls, schedule appointments, and select household items and furniture for clients. They also have volunteers who sort donations, organize items, measure sheets, group utensils and dishes, and test donated lamps and televisions.
They also have teams of workers who pick up donations, usually on Saturdays, but sometimes during the week. They are a nonprofit organization entirely run by volunteers, and they would love for you to join them!
