The Weymouth House in Bristol has opened a thrift store to help fund the Healthy Snack Pack for Kids program at the Bristol Consolidated School. Located in the basement of the Weymouth House off Rt 130, the store features pants, shirts, jackets, and household items, all for less than $5.
“The clothes are clean, I wash them myself, and we have everything from toddler outfits to women’s dresses,” said shop director Jenny Pendleton.
All proceeds will go toward the purchase of snacks used in the Healthy Snack Pack for Kids program, an initiative launched by Pendleton to provide healthy weekend snacks for children enrolled in Bristol Consolidated School’s free lunch program.
Relying entirely on donations, the thrift store currently has both men’s and women’s fashions with an abundance of kids clothing options. Pendleton will also accept household goods in usable condition such as toasters, dishes, and cookware. In order to rotate stock, she plans on keeping prices set at $5 or below.
“It just makes sense and hopefully this helps out people in need also,” said Pendleton.
With the economy still smarting from the financial collapse of 2008, thrift stores nationwide are experiencing near record sales.
Goodwill Industries, perhaps the most recognized second hand retailer in the country, has recorded modest but impressive sales growth in each of the past two years and recently opened a 16,000 square foot retail outlet in South Portland next to the Maine Mall.
With Maine’s unemployment rate hovering near 8 percent and winter looming, more and more people are looking for inexpensive options to keep warm, a fact not lost on Pendleton.
“We anticipate having a large selection of hats, gloves, and jackets once people start digging through their closets this month. Hopefully this will help us and other people,” she said.
Pendleton is currently looking for volunteers to help staff the store and sift through the many piles of donated goods.
People looking to donate or volunteer should do so during normal business hours, currently Mon.-Wed.-Fri., 1-4 p.m., or call Jenny Pendleton at 677-2211.