The Mercy Mall of Virginia has its humble beginnings in an elementary school in Midlothian, but that is not where it originally started. The idea of a free boutique was born in the heart of Arkansas Pastor, Shannon O’Dell and his wife, Cindy. Shortly after watching the movie, The Blind Side, one of their kids insisted on cutting the toes out of his shoes because he thought it was a cool trend, but it was the only way his friend could participate in gym class.

“Why not a free boutique,” asked Shannon, “…where people could get a hand-up with dignity and excellence?” The dream came alive in 2010 with the lease of a small warehouse in downtown Harrison, Arkansas, population 14,000.

Stacey Jones (now the Executive Director of Mercy Mall of VA), served weekly in the shop until her family relocated to the Richmond area in 2011. The Jones family bid Mercy Mall, “Farewell!” and began their lives in the affluent Midlothian area where they were under the naive impression that there were no “real” needs, at least not like they had seen in rural Arkansas. Then, an article in the Chesterfield Observer illustrated how the recession was impacting local families stating, “They have cherry wood cabinets with no food inside.”

A tiny seed was planted in Stacey’s heart as God began to reveal the reality of suffering that was occurring in the local community.

In October 2011, another Arkansan couple connected with the Jones family and opened a Brand New Church campus in Midlothian, under Pastor Shannon…bringing the free community “boutique” to the area offering free canned goods, toiletries and coats to those in need. A year later, the campus pastor shut down the church campus and moved, leaving the Jones family to make a tough decision.

After much prayer and with the blessings from the founding pastor, the Jones family decided to take a leap of faith and continue the Mercy Mall ministry, ensuring that it would be a reliable resource to area residents.

The operation quickly grew from one table and a rolling cart piled with essential items in Alberta Smith Elementary School to a 10,000 square foot facility at the Chesterfield Airport Office Park providing clothing, shoes, housewares, paper products, baby items, cleaning supplies, and more to hundreds of people every month.

With God’s guidance and provision, the Mercy Mall of Virginia has become a resource and a refuge to thousands of local families and beyond!!

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19