Thrift Shop

It all began when one of us found herself volunteering for an area thrift shop. She began to think about our unused kitchen that had recently been replaced. Every now and then an idea for the space would surface, and that would float away for lack of interest or willingness to move on the idea.

We began to think we could make a thrift shop work in that space. Interested potential volunteers were found and the idea was run by the church council. There was no opposition. Volunteers helped to clean out the space that had become storage and painted it. Fixtures were ordered, and a plea for donations went out. In early November 2005 The Edgecomb Thrift Shop opened for business in the lower level of the church.

It was decided, because of limited space, that certain items could not be accepted as donations. These include large furniture (although we do have a network if we know about available items), toys, exercise equipment, and most electronics.

Since opening, the whole concept has evolved from just having a store to being a community center where the neighborhood can recycle usable items, where the neighborhood can purchase quality things at a small cost, and where seniors and others can come to lunch.

We are also listed as a resource with the United Way to fill needs and with the local agencies to which we are able to donate monthly profits.

It has never been about the money. We have virtually no overhead, so it became obvious that there would be money and that we were in a position to help in places we hadn't thought of. Our mission became one of service to the community.

The community lunch began when the three who worked on Tuesday would bring a bit of lunch to share with each other, a pot of soup, some sandwiches, a bit of sweets. We always had too much, so we began to ask our shoppers to join in. They were usually reluctant, but now and then someone accepted our invitation. It was decided that we should just DO a WEEKLY LUNCH and not charge for it. We started to advertise this event in June of 2006. We asked everyone who came through our doors. Soon we had a fairly large group of "regulars". Our numbers reached an average of 25 to as many as 32.

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving we do a "turkey pot luck" where the turkeys, potatoes and gravy are prepared by the Thrift Shop and those who attend bring vegetable dishes, cranberry sauce and rolls, pies and beverages.

That day we have more than forty attend. The lunch has become an important weekly social event in the lives of many of our seniors. They come from Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Wiscasset, Nobleboro, Bristol, and other surrounding communities. The Thrift Shop is able to fund this weekly event with its profits and with donated foods and with money that ends up in the donations can. The shop is able to make monthly donations to agencies in the area that help seniors and children, along with those that address basic needs, like food pantries, homeless shelters and fuel assistance.

There is always a list of agencies to which we donate as well as a printout of our checkbook, so anyone can see what comes in and what goes out.

What we do want to accept as donations include all sorts of clothing in clean and serviceable condition, as well as household things such as linens, small kitchen appliances, dishes, pots and pans, etc. candles, and various knick-knacks. We sell accessories such as purses, wallets, belts and scarves. There is often a selection of ladies jewelry and always books. I tell folks that we have "one of everything." We just have to find it.

Summer fundraisers are held annually to raise money for various needs. In July an IRIS sale is held. We have been able to raise $400 per year for area fuel assistance and community needs. During Cross Point Road's annual "five mile yard sale" in August a food and baked good sale is held. The money earned for this event is usually put into our emergency needs fund.

The Thrift Shop is open twice a week: Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 2 and also open during the monthly public suppers which are held at the church from May to October in the church dining room.