LAPLACE — One man is keeping his wife’s dream alive by operating the store and leading the community effort she started.

Bertha Bell started the New Life Thrift Store to help women who were in abusive relationships. Surviving abuse herself, she wanted to help others in similar situations.

After her passing in 2010, the store was named in her memory.

Edward Bell and a group of volunteers keep Bertha New Life Thrift Store operating for local families as well as others in surrounding communities.

“My wife started this thrift store, and she worked with battered women’s shelters,” Bell said. “I haven’t gone to any, but I do send them cash donations. If they need any other supplies, I try and provide it for them.”

The thrift store is collecting new toys this holiday season for the New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter.

“People can donate small toys, puzzles and things, items like that,” Bell said. “My church (First Community Antioch Baptist Church in Lutcher) has also been collecting toys. They’ve been doing it for about a month. I don’t want to send them used toys; they can be defective or not clean. That’s why we want to send them new toys. The children that receive the toys don’t have a home, they don’t have a father figure and they don’t have a Santa Claus. These toys will mean the world to them. It means a lot to me. I like giving. I want to put a smile on those children’s faces this Christmas.”

If people wish to help, Bell said donations can be dropped of at the thrift store at 650 W. Fifth St. in LaPlace or brought directly to the shelter in New Orleans. The LaPlace store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Toy donations will be accepted until Saturday.

Bell has been helping the New Orleans Women’s Shelter for a number of years, and he said he tries to send $300 from his own pocket every few months.

Imani Hill, who has worked at the Bertha New Life for six years, started as a volunteer and has made her way to store manager. Being a mother, she said the toy donations are special.

“I have three children, I don’t get child support or any help with my children,” she said. “I know how it feels for a child to not have a whole lot for Christmas, because my children have experienced that. I’m not able to do a whole lot for them for Christmas. But, I know my kids will get something.

“The children in the shelters, they don’t get anything. They don’t have family members to come and bring them presents or anything like that. I think these donations mean a lot to them, I know it means a great deal to my kids just to have the little things.”

Kirsten Bolding has been volunteering at Bertha New Life for three weeks now.

She started volunteering because she said she lives in the St. John Housing Development, doesn’t have a job and needed to do community service.

“By working here, I get to help others and it also helps me,” Bolding said. “I get out of the house and meet other people instead of sitting inside being depressed. It’s a place that is joyous and full of love.”

Bolding said the store means a lot to the community and the people it serves.

“It’s also a place for battered women,” she said. “(Bell) will help anyone who comes in seeking help. This is a great place to come. Some people who need help with clothes (Bell) is there to help.

“Tis the season to by jolly,” she said. “You can’t be a Grinch around Christmas, we are trying to help everybody who can be helped.”

By Raquel Derganz Baker