Goodwill

Goodwill is known for its array of vintage items, unique smell and low prices; however, most people don’t know that Goodwill has a custodian that tidies up the whole place herself.

Diane Hendrix, 51-years-old, is responsible for making Goodwill the clean place that it is today.

“People tell me I do a good job all the time,” Hendrix said.

Hendrix originally became involved with Goodwill in Jesup, Georgia, but decided to transfer to the Goodwill in Statesboro.

“I wanted to move back here. I was born in Statesboro, but I moved to Jesup in 1971. I spent most of my life in Jesup which is about an hour and a half away,” Hendrix said.

When she worked in Jesup, her job was to put clothes on the racks, but there wasn’t a position for that here. Only a custodian position.

A typical day for Hendrix is waking up around 7:00 a.m. to get ready for work. She catches a taxi so she can get there early, usually around 8 a.m., heads to the closet in the back to get her equipment and starts cleaning the bathroom.

“I clean, vacuum, sweep the floors, clean the bathrooms, pick up trash from the parking lot and wipe down the doors and windows,” she said.

She cleans until her it’s time for her lunch break at 1:00 p.m. After her break, she continues to clean until it’s time to get off at 3:00 p.m.

After work, she goes home to her 21-year-old daughter to be a mother and unwind from her day. Hendrix spends most of her free time in church. She hasn’t quite found a church she wants to become a member of, but she’s an active participant.

Hendrix works every day except Sunday, so the next time you’re shopping in Goodwill, say thank you to the lady who makes the store spotless.

“I just like working. I’m just trying to make it,” is something she will probably tell you.

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Eagle Flea and Consignment

We’ve all heard the saying when one door closes another one opens. Well, when one door closes it’s usually for a reason.

Eagle Flea and Consignment located in the plaza behind Wendy’s & Zaxby’s on Fair Road. They specialize in gently used furniture, home decorum, name brand clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, linens and dishes. The store has participated in activities such as Boro Browse and Green Fest, with Georgia Southern University.

“I was hoping we could have gotten more students in here because that was my major focus. I provide good quality used furniture to restore their apartments or houses,” Betty Murray, owner of Eagle Flea and Consignment, said.

Sadly, Murray is closing the store to take care of her mother, who is a dementia patient. Murray has been her mother’s caregiver for two years now. Over the course of those two years, her mother has had two back surgeries.

“I started asking God to give me a direction on what I needed to do. When she had her surgeries I didn’t know what was gonna happen. I wasn’t sure if she would come through it or not or be the same mother,” Murray said.

Over the months, customers started to come in less and less to the store. As much as he dreaded to accept it, Murray saw this as a sign that God was telling her to close.

“I want people to remember that my store was unique. It’s not a Walmart. It’s designed for you to come in, take your time to browse because you’re going to find a lot of interesting things and some good deals,” Murray said.

Everything is 50 percent off Eagle Flea and Consignment until it closes on Saturday, February 26.

“I’m gonna miss my customers more than anything, but I may be back,” she said.