What does gratitude look like when it moves beyond words? Sometimes, it looks like showing up on a Thursday afternoon. Sometimes, it looks like giving your time to a good cause. And sometimes, it simply looks like a conversation with someone who may not have spoken to another person all day.
At Love INC of Littleton, we believe gratitude is something we put into action through serving, giving, and engaging with our community. This October, we’re celebrating Gratitude in Motion and the ways thankfulness can inspire each of us to make a difference in the lives of others.
And one Renewed Treasures volunteer is a wonderful example of what that can look like.
Thursday afternoons worth looking forward to
For Nancy W, Thursday afternoons at Renewed Treasures have become more than an obligation on the calendar. They’re something to look forward to all week.
“I build my week around Thursday afternoons,” she shared. “I love the women I work with!”
Now in her second year of volunteering, Nancy has found something meaningful and the opportunity to give back. In fact, she’d happily spend even more time there if she could.
“Wish I could do it more than just Thursday afternoons,” she says.
Her perspective reminds us that volunteering isn’t just about what we accomplish during a shift. It’s also about the friendships we form and the joy we discover along the way. And for Nancy, volunteering has become a way to share her time and talents while finding a sense of purpose and belonging in the process.
“All I want to be able to do is something where I’m giving back,” she explained. “Couldn’t think of anything better for me to be doing!”
Nancy’s story shows us Gratitude in Motion: recognizing the good in our lives and choosing to share it with others.
Making a difference in simple ways
Ask her about her favorite part of volunteering, and Nancy’s answer might surprise you.
It’s not just organizing donations, stocking shelves, or helping the store run smoothly. It’s people.
“I love when I’m putting something out on the shelves in the store and a shopper comes up to talk to me. Sometimes I’m the only person they’ve talked to all day!”
Think about that for a moment.
A conversation that feels ordinary to one person might be the most meaningful interaction another person has had all day. A friendly hello, a few minutes of listening, a little shared laughter can remind someone they’re seen and they matter.
That’s one of the beautiful things about serving others: we don’t always know the impact we’ll have.
We simply show up, offer what we can, and trust that even small acts of kindness matter.
At Renewed Treasures, every day brings opportunities to do just that. As a resale boutique supporting Love INC’s mission, the store offers more than secondhand treasures. It’s also a place where people can connect, feel welcomed, and experience the kindness of their community.
And for this volunteer, those moments are part of why she keeps coming back.
“My reason for coming here is to show people, ‘Hey, I am really happy volunteering.’ Maybe this is my little mission in life.”
And what a wonderful mission it is.
Let gratitude move you this fall
As we move into the fall season, our calendars quickly fill with preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s a time we naturally reflect on what we’re grateful for and look for ways to bless others.
Gratitude in motion means turning thankfulness into tangible action…taking what we’ve been given and finding ways to share our time, talents, and treasure.
Maybe that means volunteering at Renewed Treasures. If you’ve been searching for “volunteer opportunities near me,” this could be the perfect season to find your place to serve and make a difference in your community.
Maybe it means supporting a local faith-based nonprofit by donating household items or choosing to donate to charity. Or perhaps it simply means being more intentional about noticing the people around you and taking time to make them feel seen.
There are so many ways to give back in Littleton and our surrounding community. As 1 John 3:18 reminds us, “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
This fall, consider one practical way you can put your gratitude into motion. Your next small act of service might make a bigger difference than you realize. And like our Renewed Treasures volunteer has discovered, you may find that when you give back, you receive something meaningful in return, too.