You might say young Maverick Underwood is making quite a name for himself in the local business community.
He’s only 5 years old.
“He’s my heart,” grandmother Angie Underwood said as customers roam throughout Maverick’s House, the thrift store at 2609 Raeford Road and Robeson Street, where you can find just about anything and everything at a bargain price.
Maverick is the son of Sgt. 1st Class Tyler and Karlie Underwood. Maverick was born at Womack Army Medical Center, where he was diagnosed two days later with Trisomy 21, aka Down syndrome, whereby one is born, according to the National Down Syndrome Society, with a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.
“The only difference with Maverick is he is nonverbal,” Angie Underwood said, although she believes Maverick one day will be verbal. “Otherwise, he’s just like every other child.” He attends a public school in Whiteville, Underwood says, where Maverick lives with his mother. “They say the students just took to him.”
The Rev. Tommy Underwood just adores his grandson.
“He the sweetest thing that God has ever stretched skin over someone,” said Underwood, 66, pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Rockfish.
Tommy and Angie Underwood had been giving thought to opening Maverick’s House, aka Maverick’s House Ministries, for a while with the idea of a nonprofit that would help those with Down syndrome, but they were looking for just the right location.
Tommy Underwood thought the old Highland Dry Cleaners building dating to the 1950s might be an ideal location, but he wanted to be sure before leasing a portion of the building.
“Tommy found it and sat across the street” watching traffic, Angie Underwood said. “He didn’t think at first it was big enough.”
Her husband wasn’t giving up.
“You count cars,” he said. “My biggest concern was available parking. But we’ve been able to work out the parking.”
Maverick’s House, with financial support from George and Ann Culbreth, who attend Tabernacle Baptist Church, opened July 6.
Business, the Underwoods say, has been robust, and the couple cannot be more grateful.
“It’s been really good,” Angie Underwood, 64, said. “People are really nice. The people that come in are very nice and kind. I’ve met people with children that have Downs syndrome, and grandparents. I’ve seen people from high school I haven’t seen in years.”
No argument from the good preacher.
“I was absolutely floored when we opened July 6,” Tommy Underwood said. “We’ve been blessed with donations” of clothing, shoes, etc. “We are not here to ask for money. We are here to help those with Down syndrome and those who are autistic. We welcome it. I’m ashamed why I waited to do this for so long.”
The thrift store also is working with Karl and Kim Molnar, who founded Miller’s Crew in 2003 and own and operate the nonprofit Miller’s Brew Coffee Shop along Morganton Road in Haymount in support of those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The Molnar’s son, Miller, is autistic, and the couple founded Miller’s Crew, which connects members with the community through ongoing training, apprenticeship programs and community employment.
A Miller’s Crew member works at Maverick’s House.
“Our first crew member tells us how much he loves it, and we hope to send more,” Molnar said. “They are wonderful people,” she said about Tommy and Angie Underwood. “They are very nice people, and what I love about Fayetteville is people who want to do something for their community. I hope the community will support them. You walk in and see how hard Angie is working for her mission. I think it’s great, and it has been so well received.”
Something for everybody
Now, about Maverick’s House, and just what you’ll find.
You’ll find racks and rows of women’s clothes from skirts, blouses, jeans, slack, jackets, sweaters, two-piece suits, belts, socks and hose, bras, and even formal wear, including a spanking-new wedding dress, Angie Underwood says, that was purchased at an estate sale. Size 2-3 if you are wondering, and just $30. Call it a steal for a bride-to-be.
“Ladies’ tops are our biggest seller,” she said.
You’ll find ladies’ shoes and boots, and children’s shoes. Ladies’ purses, too.
And not to leave out the men, where you’ll find slacks, shirts, jeans, sport coats, suits, belts, socks, and neckties.
There are household items from comforters, blankets, curtains, draperies, sheets and bedspreads, furniture, lamps, glassware, and even Christmas décor, including holiday trees.
“It’s neat,” Gregg Phillips said Thursday as he was back for a second time with his grandson.
A lady at the cash register was purchasing winter coats for her and friends to send to residents in western North Carolina still trying to recover from the wrath of Hurricane Helene.
“Just let her have them,” for quite a discount, Angie Underwood told Ron Harrelson, who was manning the cash register.
The customer was just one reaching out to those in the mountains in need.
“I had one lady who bought 23 coats last week to send to western North Carolina,” Angie Underwood said. “And somebody came in and bought a bunch, too. I didn’t count how many she bought.”
This thrift store may be tiny in size, but you’ll never find two people with bigger hearts for helping others than Tommy and Angie Underwood. They are grateful for their customers and friends such as Joy Powell, owner of Blue Bike Antiques and Gifts across the street, Gillis Hill Farms for spreading the word about their store via Facebook, Bill McMillan and the nearby Re-Store Warehouse, and Karl and Kim Molnar.
The benevolence, Tommy and Angie Underwood say, is in support of Down syndrome, autism and whatever and wherever there is a need.
“We’ll be donating to the Triangle Buddy Walk in support of the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance on Oct. 20, in Holly Springs,” Angie Underwood said. “And we are making a contribution,” Tommy Underwood said, “to the 82nd Airborne to help folks in western North Carolina.”
Epilogue
Maverick’s House is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
“It’s just been great,” Angie Underwood said.
Tommy Underwood says Maverick’s House is waiting to hear from the state about its application for nonprofit 501(c)(3) status.
“It was a lot of prayer,” the preacher said. “Whatever days I’ve got left, I’m gonna try to help. We’ll see where it takes us. We’ve been blessed.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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What an incredible mission and blessing. Will be donating to them soon.