SERVE to look for new director

Rick Head mounts the Clothes Cupboard sign at their temporary location at 518 Jefferson St. The Serve Inc.-run operation will soon move to a large building at 1223 South U.S. Business 54.
Rick Head mounts the Clothes Cupboard sign at their temporary location at 518 Jefferson St. The Serve Inc.-run operation will soon move to a large building at 1223 South U.S. Business 54.

While some of the faces at SERVE Inc. have changed, the nonprofit organization is going forward under the positive leadership of Charles Williams.

Williams has served seven years on the board of directors, and is now president of that board. He said the board is also serving as "interim director" while a search is conducted for a new director. Steve Mallinckrodt retired Feb. 27, he said.

"He's a great guy," Williams said. "He's a good people person."

Job requirements for the director's position are being reviewed, Williams said.

"It will be advertised in the next week or so," he added.

The federally funded RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) program also is ending after an investigation into misuse of federal funds was put in the hands of local attorney Tom Riley.

"The RSVP director was terminated for misconduct," Williams said, declining to name the former director. "We are not going to fill the position."

Riley was contacted for comment but said he couldn't say anything.

Williams said SERVE's Senior Expo is still scheduled for 9 a.m. April 12 at Callaway Christian Church, 2051 Silver Drive, Fulton. That activity and others have shifted to SERVE's Outreach Program.

The organization recently changed the name of its thrift shop from The Clothes Cupboard on South Business 54 in Fulton to "Trends," and a fundraising effort announced last fall to pay off that building will still happen eventually.

SERVE also recently added some new passenger buses, Williams said.

"Four new buses are coming to town - two are already on board for the transportation department," he said.

Williams will serve as president of the board for the new year with vice president Rev. Gary Shultz, Secretary Bobby Martin and Treasurer Mike Hill.

"SERVE has many faces," Williams said. "It's not just one person, or a couple of people. It's a little boy and girl who donate toys for underprivileged kids, to a large corporation in town, to paid and volunteer staff, to the executive board volunteers - down to individuals that patronize The Clothes Cupboard and other services. That is the face of SERVE."