TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- A Leon County church that once housed registered sex offenders just thousands of feet away from an elementary school in Woodville is working to rebuild after having to relocate.
The Good Samaritan Thrift Store, which is classified as a church on county documents, was given a "cease and desist" order in April, because it was not zoned for transitional housing.
Monday, the thrift store held a soft opening for its new location on Sharer Road.
The organization says it lost $30,000 after having to make the move.
"It was difficult," said thrift store organizer Beth Burns. "We had to go through a grieving process. We actually grew very close to the Woodville community, and we have a lot of friends down there -- a lot of followers that actually are following us up here. It was hard to say goodbye, but we know that there are seasons for everything, and it was time for us to move on and just start a new chapter of the Good Samaritan journey."
Good Samaritan no longer houses sex offenders at this new site. The group says the opening of the thrift store gives them a new beginning for their mission to help others.
"We don't let hard times stop us," said Burns. "We know that we have a mission, and that we're called to continue to serve our community and to help people. our folks have been very generous in helping us through this crunch."
The organization is set to launch an official grand opening sometime next month.
Good Samaritan will also resume its food pantry service at this new location starting next Wednesday.
