On October 14, 2011, our dear friend and coworker went home to be with the Lord. George Shank was more than just the manager of the Hope Center Thrift Stores. He was a success story of God’s life-changing work at the Hope Center.

Born on July 6, 1942, George became a successful insurance salesman until alcohol addiction began to control every area of his life. In the early 1980’s a staff member of Hagerstown Rescue Mission who was a classmate of George’s at South Hagerstown High School brought him to the Mission. Not long after coming to the Mission George accepted Christ as His Savior and surrendered his life to God. At that point George began a new life free of alcohol and he never looked back. George stayed at the Mission’s Good Samaritan Lodge and continued to grow and mature in his new walk with the Lord.

George became a staff member at Hagerstown Rescue Mission as an assistant manager in our Thrift Store. Eventually, George became store manager of our Thrift Stores in three locations. George was a loyal staff member and was committed to working hard and doing his best for God and the Mission. George had an excellent work ethic. Although he had struggled with heart and respiratory problems, he never complained and would rather be working than doing anything else. He loved what he did and he gave 100%.

George enjoyed working with the guys at the Hope Center. He became a mentor and a very close friend to one of the men who had also graduated from the program and is now employed in our Thrift Store. The men looked to George as an example of someone who had successfully gone through the program and whose life was changed as a result.

George was an avid sports fan. He loved the Redskins and Yankees. He was rarely ever seen without his NY Yankees hat. He also enjoyed playing golf with his son.

George passed away suddenly at his home on October 14, and is in the presence of Jesus. He leaves behind a son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons. George touched the lives of hundreds of people through the years at the Hope Center and he will be sadly missed by the staff and residents at the Hope Center and the many faithful customers at our Thrift Stores.