Thrift store part of worthy cause
A converted garage/outbuilding overflows with clothing, shoes, books, household and electronic goods, and other donated items. Outside are more racks filled with clothes. A mat placed on the ground nearby is covered with toys.
A 75 percent off sale is under way at the “Thrift Spot,” located at 18457 New Kent Highway in Barhamsville where Stage Road intersects Route 30. But even with a deep discount on already low prices, barely a dent will be made in inventory. Out back there’s a 53-foot long trailer, part of a tractor/trailer rig donated by JC Pallet Co., nearly filled with items waiting to take the place of those sold.
It’s a perpetual one day a week yard/garage sale, but with a purpose. The Thrift Spot is part of Tabernacle United Methodist Church’s Proclaiming Grace Outreach, which aims at helping those less fortunate. The effort is named in honor of Jenna Grace King, a youth member of Tabernacle who lost her life in a March 2008 auto accident.
Jenna Grace’s mom, Melanie King, and Holly Miller-Bopp, who owns the Thrift Spot location, help spearhead the nonprofit, faith-based outreach program. King estimates sales at close to $3,000 since the Thrift Spot opened at its Barhamsville site in January. Proceeds benefit the outreach ministry.
Doors are open Saturdays only, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., for customers to browse and take advantage of thrift store savings. Everything for sale comes in through donations from church members and the community at large. Almost anything is accepted, with the exception of broken items and mattresses.
“Item-wise, I think you can say we’ve had hundreds of thousands,” King said during a brief break in the March 20 sale.
“Every Saturday, we have 10-12 truckloads of donations come in. The giving part has been amazing,” Miller-Bopp chimed in.
About a dozen volunteers assist each Saturday, making sure shelves and racks are stocked and helping customer with sales.
“We’d like to be open more, but that’s not going to happen right now,” King added.
But that hasn’t stopped organizers from dreaming big and looking to the future.
“We eventually want to build a larger building and expand to provide free medical care for people along with self-improvement services,” King said.
The Thrift Spot, meanwhile, shares the outreach program spotlight with a food bank at the church located at 20051 Tabernacle Road. The food bank is open the third Friday each month, 4-7 p.m.
Donations for both the food bank and thrift store are welcome, and volunteers are needed. Contact King at (757) 810-4337, Miller-Bopp (757) 435-3620, or the church (757) 566-0659 or e-mail pgo@tumfc.org.