Back in the late 1970s, the Women's Society decided not to hold any more rummage sales due to the lack of
interest and a shortage of volunteers. I had recently heard of a church that had opened a very successful Thrift Shop.
The thought came to my mind that the second floor of the Parish House wasn't being used. This was just a dream for me.
I knew I would have to get approval from the president of the Women's Society (Beryl Schumacher at that time), so I pitched
my idea of a Thrift Shop whose purpose would be to raise money for our church. After receiving approval, it dawned on
me-here I was with four empty rooms, nothing to put in them, no way to hang or display items, and the biggest concern-no help!
Then Dorothy Whiting said she would work with me. So we started out with nothing more then determination
and a prayer. Just us two Dot's. We knew it would take time. We started by asking the congregation
for any donations they could give us to set up shop. After a few months, Harriet Morgan came to help us, and it was
due to her efforts that we have the clothing racks we still use today. She went to Britt's Department Store,(which was
closing) and Britt's agreed to give us the racks for free because we were a church. later, when we had raised enough
money, we bought metal shelves; and Schuyler Larrabee built some wood shelves for one of the rooms. Fred Heinrich made
a sign which we hung on the porch of the Parish House. It took awhile to get enough items and a variety of things, but
we kept on plugging along.
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| Click on pic to view larger |
When I became president of Ruth Circle (now Sunflower Group), I suggested we take over the shop as our way to make money
for the church (and be a mission to the area). It was voted on and passed. Gradually we received more clothing
and other items from donors and had much more help. Initially, the shop was open only one day a month, and the profit
that first year was $500. Now we are open every Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
| Busy sorting clothes brought in for sale |
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| Dot Valentine & Meta McClary-Ladies in the Thrift Shop workroom. |
| Click on pic to see in larger view |
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| Jan Cole preparing clothing for display |
MORE MISSIONS
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