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Covington Casket Company recently gave back to its community with the donation of a 2014 Nissan cargo van to Meredith’s Miracles Thrift Store in Andalusia on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

The donation allows Meredith’s Miracles to transport donations it receives back and forth to the thrift store for the Retail Donation program.

“Receiving this van from Covington Casket means so much to us. We have needed something like this for a few years, but the cause is even greater now. We had to borrow other vehicles or get a U-Haul for our growing Retail Donation Program at the thrift store. Now, we can hop in our van and go pick up any donations we receive,” said Meredith’s Miracles Executive Director Kiley Spears.

In 2023, Meredith’s Miracles received approximately $9,313 in new retail items through the Retail Donation Program.

“Local businesses have run out of room in their area with clearance or marked-down items and/or items not selling. We began reaching out to businesses and told them we could do free pickup for those items. In turn, we give them a tax receipt for their donations,” Meredith’s Miracles Retail Donation Program Manager Aylish Parker said.

Before receiving the van donation, Parker’s vehicle was used for transporting donations to the thrift store. Other board members would also use their cars.

“With this van being donated, it allows us to no longer worry about contacting someone for a large vehicle. We are now able to pick up donations as soon as we are contacted. We are grateful for any donations from local businesses that support our foundation greatly. At the end of the day, funding the children is so important to us, and having received this van makes it so much more convenient. We are ever thankful for this donation from Covington Casket,” Parker added.

Spears said Meredith’s Miracles would not be offering residential pickups with the van.

“When businesses have pickups for us, we need to get it out of their way as fast as possible. This van will enable us to go and get back to our thrift store immediately. Thank you, Covington Casket, for having such big hearts and being a part of Meredith’s Miracles for 18 years. They are so supportive and give back to this community. This van was a nice surprise and such a sweet gesture on their behalf. We were not at the crossroads where we could purchase a vehicle, and now, we don’t have to worry about that,” Spears said.

According to Covington Casket Company president Alan Williamson, the van was originally listed on Facebook Marketplace. A potential buyer from Mobile reached out to Williamson but did not follow through with the purchase.

“I did not know Meredith’s Miracles was looking for a van until a mutual friend told me. By God’s grace, the buyer did not show, so I called Kiley to see if they wanted it. We ended up giving it to a good cause here. It does my heart good to give back to our community, and we are blessed to do that. We have had a partnership with Meredith’s Miracles for 18 years and counting. Thank you to them for all they do; this is a small token of how we can help each other out in a time of need,” Williamson said.

Meredith’s Miracles Thrift Store is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any gently used donations except food are welcome.