Correspondent photo / Russell Brickey Business and community leaders cut the ribbon Thursday morning at the Centofanti Volunteer Resource Center in Boardman, which will serve as the headquarters of the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley.
BOARDMAN — Nilda Velazquez always had big dreams.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Velazquez was heavily involved in sports, music and dance. She recalls being selected for a scholarship to study piano and describes her childhood as “blessed and full of opportunity.”
In 2010, those dreams had to be put on hold when she was seriously injured in a devastating car accident. More than anything, Velazquez needed help and quality medical care. When she heard about the Cleveland Clinic and the promise of specialized treatment, she decided to move from Puerto Rico to Youngstown to live with her family and begin her path to healing.
After rehabilitation, Velazquez made a miraculous recovery and no longer needed a cane to walk. Although she was still unable to work full-time, she volunteered at East High School to introduce students to Hispanic culture through dance.
Her students were invited to participate in Hispanic Heritage Day in Youngstown, for which Velazquez choreographed costumed dancers to honor the culture. From that point on, she continued to volunteer at the high school and her church as a missionary, distributing food and supplies to those in need.
After the pandemic, everything changed. With a surplus of donated goods from her church,
Velazquez decided to host her own flea markets and continue to raise money for anyone who needed help. Above all else, Velazquez said, she wanted to “show the community the love of God.”
She said when she started running garage sales at New Life Church, the Uptown Cheapskate thrift store in Boardman began donating clothing to the church. But a few months later, the church closed its clothing store.
When the opportunity arose to share a store with a friend in Poland who owned Galaxy Granite and Marble, she finally decided to open her own thrift store. In 2022, Angels Missions Quality Consignment Store was born.
Now located in the former Dick Adgate Flower Shop building on Market Street in Boardman, her shop is a beacon of hope for many. The shop has an atmosphere of warmth and caring as each customer is treated with the utmost respect.
She said her friend from Galaxy helped her remodel the store, including the floors and toilets, and buy clothing racks. Other people donated consignment items for her to sell.
“We started with nothing, but the Lord provides for us,” said Velazquez, 52.
Angels Missions seeks to promote hope and dignity by partnering with initiatives and organizations that support families and individuals alike.
With a wide selection of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, accessories, toys, furniture and household items, there is something for everyone at Angels Missions. The thrift store offers affordable, high-quality goods while promoting sustainability and waste reduction.
All donated goods not sold in Velazquez’s store are sent to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and various mission trips across the country. On the last Friday of the month, Angels Missions provides meals to those in need.
“It’s a spiritual satisfaction that money can’t buy,” she said.
Her desire to help others doesn’t stop with community. Velazquez participates in several mission trips around the globe, including a recent trip to El Salvador with New Life Church. During that trip, she served as a translator and provided shelter, food, clothing, medicine, and school supplies. She brought her love of the arts with her, teaching dance and acting to the children of El Salvador to share the Lord’s message with them.
Today, Velazquez spends her free time translating and helping the Hispanic community find jobs, get residency permits and get a driver’s license, while taking her 80-year-old friend to chemotherapy every day before work.
Although Velazquez said she has faced discrimination because she is Hispanic, disabled and a woman, she said that “the love of God overcomes all barriers.” She continues to break down barriers every day, fueled by her love for people and her unwavering motivation to make the world a better place, starting here in Youngstown.
“I am so grateful for everything God has given me that I want to give back. I am living my dream,” she said.
Velazquez is looking for missionaries and people to help her continue to support the church. Anyone who would like to help can visit www.angelsmissions.com or call 4527.
Market St., Boardman. The thrift store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
To suggest a Friday profile, contact Metro Editor Marly Reichert at [email protected] or Features Editor Ashley Fox at [email protected].
