Meet Evan Carr | Lead Volunteer Coordinator | Spartanburg Shares (A Medical Loan Closet)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Evan Carr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evan, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Our organization, a medical loan closet/lending library, is not only one of three in the Carolinas and the only in South Carolina. It is just one of a few across the country. I would like to answer another question here as well: I get to take risks at this organization and in my career here. I have more creative freedom and get to work on projects here that I may not in other organizations (at least right away). I do have to work harder to get our name out to the community and to have our organization become more respected and trusted in our community. On a majorly positive note: we have been gaining more notoriety in the grantee and funder world, particularly with the Spartanburg County Foundation! They awarded us a $2,500 grant in September 2023, and a couple of their employees have trusted us when they or someone they knew were having surgery and needed equipment. The work we all put in along with our camaraderie makes our family atmosphere worth being in! Our regular clients and donors are just as much like family to us as our volunteers. Spartanburg Shares has been the gift that keeps on giving.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think my knowledge of and relationships in the community plus my empathy sets me apart from others. I am most excited and proud of not only our $2,500 grant from last September, but that our organization will be one of several benefiting from this year’s Auction for a Cause in Spartanburg in November 2024. I also designed a new logo for our organization with several variants for social media, our website, email, and print and promotional items, using different color schemes, backgrounds (and transparent backgrounds) and arrangements. My career had a lot of pivots. Some parts of the ride and story were not the easiest times of my life, but I learned a lot during those times both professionally and personally and became a better person. I’ve learned more than ever that people matter and people are first. Your relationships define your net worth. You cannot have healthy profits without happy people in the long run. I’ve also learned to step out of the details and look at the bigger picture to see it more clearly, and that sometimes you’ll find what you’re looking for when or especially where you least expect it. I want to connect with local and regional people and businesses through my enjoyment of going out and trying new food, drinks and activities and help others become aware of these places. I also want to help these places expand their footprint both online and in the community. National recognition would be great as well as long as I don’t compromise my vision, values and mission (my why). Again, Spartanburg Shares has been a real gift to me and to all involved and in our community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Monday – breakfast/brunch at the Skillet or lunch at the Beacon, Sugar N Spice, Delaney’s or Wade’s, then head to Downtown Greenville for the afternoon for coffee at Daydrinkers, a walk around Unity Park or the Swamp Rabbit Trail (or Haywood Mall if it’s raining or bowling at Peach Lanes in Greer), dinner at one of Greenville/Greer’s finest restaurants and possibly a Greenville Drive or Greenville Swamp Rabbits game.

Tuesday – breakfast at the Skillet, coffee at Little River Coffee Bar or the Fretwell, mini golf at Sparkle City Mini Putt, lunch Downtown at Konnichiwa or Smoking Butt-heads, take in a discount movie at Regal Cinemas or NCG, go walking on the Rail Trail/Hub City Hopper or at Milliken, have pizza for dinner at Venus Pie Pizzeria.

Wednesday – breakfast and coffee (same places or possibly Waffle House, Eggs Up Grill or Papa’s Breakfast Nook and possibly coffee at Knowledge Perk, Bella Latte or Spill the Beans). A walk at Cleveland or Duncan Park. Head to the Greenville area for lunch and a round of Topgolf, possibly followed by Frankie’s Fun Park for some mini-golf or slick track go-kart action. Head to Downtown Greer to the Cartwright Food Hall for dinner and drinks, plus a stroll around town before and/or after.

Thursday – breakfast and coffee, walking, lunch at a local Mexican or Italian restaurant (the more local, roadside/hole-in-the-wall/dive, the better). Some favorites are Don Bigotes, El Parienete, La Taverna, Coco Loco, Viva Villa, Tipsy Taco, Taco Dog and Bronco. In the afternoon go bowling at Underpin Lanes or Paradise Lanes or axe throwing at Craft Axe Throwing (after 4pm). Hibachi for dinner at Konnichiwa or Hachi Express in Duncan or Woodruff.

Friday – breakfast and coffee, tennis at a local public court, head out of the area for lunch and dinner (Inman, Woodruff, Landrum, Travelers Rest, Gaffney, etc). Find some local theatre or a local concert/music show and some art galleries.

Saturday – breakfast and go hiking nearby, lunch and coffee at a nearby cafe, find a park to walk and play disc golf, dinner and fun at Warehouse at Vaughn’s in Simpsonville, Taylors Mill or in Forest City, NC (each have restaurants, coffee, axe throwing and pinball museum/barcades).

Sunday – breakfast/coffee and go to church, early afternoon coffee at Barista Alley, Botanical Brew, the Hidden Bean or Milltown Coffee, followed by lunch locally or in Greer/Greenville and then an afternoon at Spare Time, Main Event or Bowlero or heading up to Hendersonville, Greenwood or Gastonia for pinball and ice cream plus lunch and dinner.

Wineries and breweries like South Bend in Greenwood or towards Shelby/Rutherfordton/Chimney Rock/Lake Lure/Spindale/Bat Cave/Flat Rock/Zirconia/Asheville/Skyland/Arden are also a great option!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All our volunteers and board are much deserving of a shoutout as well, and I will name them in a few seconds. I would like first to give a shoutout to both Heather Ailstock and Faith Tinsley, both with the Spartanburg County Foundation. They have both been huge champions and advocates for us in the area and the city.

On to our volunteers! I would like to thank the following people helping us make Spartanburg Shares happen and what it is today:

Our Board & Volunteers:
Brian Bruce, President and Son of Founder Bea Bruce
Jim Zukowski, Vice President
Erin Hubbell, Secretary (also a Spartanburg High School English teacher)
Craig Williams, Treasurer
Rev. Paula Griffin of the Episcopal Church of the Advent
Arthur “Art” Mills
Dr. Benita Yowe (Dean of the School of Education for Spartanburg Community College)
Sheila Vincent
Alexis Giosa (a third-year student at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM Carolinas))
Nate Eisel and Meghan Jacob (both second-year students at VCOM Carolinas)
Cynthia Lister
Vickie Witteveen
Rick Van Vleet
Bobbie Woods
Linda Merrill
Zach Fitzgerald, Salvador (Sal) Alvarez and Lisa Hudson (they are newer Volunteer arrivals)

Plus I would like to also thank all the media who have helped us put our story out there (or are about to in the coming months) – thanks to WSPA 7News, WYFF News 4, WHNS Fox Carolina News, the Post & Courier Spartanburg, WNCW FM 88.7, Audacy Upstate, iHeart Radio, Summit Media Group and of course Voyage Magazine South Carolina for all the features on us! Plus, WGGS-TV 16 will be interviewing me in early June on their Niteline series, where I will share my story and also Spartanburg Shares’ story. We have also been invited to speak at our local Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs in April. We had the opportunity to speak with the Kiwanis Club of Spartanburg and Spartan West Rotary Club, and also to be represented at USC Upstate’s Nonprofit Fair.

Website: www.spartanburgshares.org

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/spartanburg-shares

Twitter: www.twitter.com/spartanburgs

Facebook: www.facebook.com/spartanburgshares

Image Credits
Photo credits: Jane Bird, Vickie Witteveen, Evan Carr