The Crosby Group donates racking to ShareFest-Texas

The racking will be used to store purchased and/or donated furniture and other household goods prior to distribution.

The Crosby Group is an active supporter of charitable causes, including Bridges to Prosperity and Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation. At the company’s site in Arlington, Texas, employee Charles (Chuck) Harper is a volunteer at ShareFest-Texas.

The racking, which spanned an entire row of The Crosby Group’s warehouse, was in perfect working order, but it could not store the new-style crates that have been recently adopted as part of everyday storage practice at the facility.

Harper, who helps ShareFest-Texas’s warehouse operations team deliver requested items, said: “I saw value in the racking, where others might have seen scrap. I knew that the racking could be repurposed and extend its useful life. This is also how I view people in general. I have lived a long time and acquired many skills along the way, which I use to help other people who lack the resources to help themselves. Basically, I have adopted a pay-it-forward mentality. As I told Mr. Thielman [John Thielman, aka ‘Papa John’, ShareFest-Texas’s founder], it feels good to do good. I would hope that if someone in my family needs help in the future, that someone like me will be there to provide that assistance.”

The standard commercial racking will be more than adequate for ShareFest-Texas. Previously, items were stored on the floor and stacked on top of one another, often damaging them, and making the non-profit’s warehouse operations difficult and time-consuming. ? The new racking will also enable safer working conditions for ShareFest-Texas’s volunteers.

Michael Gill, senior director, Distribution & Logistics at Arlington, said: “When I heard Chuck’s idea and his involvement with the charity, I was excited to get involved and help. Like everyone here at The Crosby Group, I’m passionate about community work and good causes, and this was a perfect, local campaign that we could help with a practical solution.

“Previously, we had to reach out for donated furniture and household items, whereas today donors are more proactive calling us for pick-ups and bringing items to our doorstep. In 2020, we fully furnished a dozen apartments; in 2021, over 60 apartments; and this year we hope to furnish more than 80. The donated shelving will allow us to efficiently see, store, pick, and distribute what we call ‘hope items’ on a grand scale. Safety is of paramount importance and more than 30 volunteers were placed at unnecessary risk by previous storage methods,” added Thielman.