All Saints’ & St. George’s thrift shops offer summer bargains at both locations
The Episcopal Parish of All Saints' Church and St. George's Chapel Thrift Shops are featuring summer clothing clearance sales, with new bargains starting every Wednesday in July, ending with the the summer bag sale. Sales offerings at the Midway thrift shop location start two weeks after the Rehoboth location dates, running from July 16 to Aug. 9. Winter clothing will be for sale at both locations beginning Thursday, Aug. 1.
Both locations are also currently looking for new volunteers to join the workforce and help with their mission to support the community through outreach. This is done by accepting donations of items and selling them to provide monetary donations to nonprofit organizations in the community.
“Running a thrift shop utilizes the skills and talents of many types of people,” said Joanna Carty, Thrift Shops Ministries director for the parish. "We have a small staff, but our thrift shops rely on the goodwill and passion of our volunteers. They give their time and talents without realizing how much they teach others and touch lives. The collective value they give in in-kind volunteer hours each year is invaluable to us. Their laughter, smiles, and social interactions add so much to the environment we work in each and every day."
She said it takes a lot of hands to accept and sort donations, process the items by department, stock the sales floors and work as cashiers. Additional volunteers are needed at both the Rehoboth Beach Forgotten Mile and Midway Shopping Center locations. A minimum of three volunteer hours per week is required, and vested volunteers receive discounts on various items. The shops also provide opportunities for volunteers to make donations to a preferred community charity by placing names in a fishbowl for drawings at the end of the month. Last year, volunteers gave out over $100,000 in funds, predominantly to charities in Sussex County.
"I enjoy volunteering. It helps my morale; it’s a social time for me. I have a good relationship with my customers that I've built up through the years, [and] I look forward to seeing them. If I can bless them in some way during the day, it is my pleasure to help them out,” said volunteer Essie Powell.
Other volunteer benefits include a fun and supportive social work environment, the ability to make a difference to the causes they care most about in the community, and knowing the work being done helps recycle, reuse and repurpose items. Those interested in volunteering can contact either of the parish thrift shop locations by emailing allsaints.stgeorgesthriftshop@gmail.com, or calling Rehoboth (302-226-3123) or Midway (302-827-2041) for more information.
Shopping hours for both locations are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays. Donations are always welcome and may be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Saturday behind both stores. The thrift shops are closed on Sundays.
