It was the week after Memorial Day, but the Wesley Thrift Shop had winter clothes in stock.
“Look at the calendar — still March,” volunteer Marty Heinold said from behind the intake counter as the shop reopened for the first time in almost three months.
As consignors collected payouts for the merchandise sold before the store closed, workers greeted customers with a squirt of hand sanitizer and sorted through the clothes racks. The shop is a ministry of First United Methodist Church, and the money goes to church programs, local youth organizations and other charitable causes.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began and with most of the volunteers over 60, Wesley’s board decided to close the shop in mid-March. Now bargain hunters are able to start shopping again with restrictions in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The number of customers inside the store is being limited, shoppers are asked to wear masks or face coverings before entering and no new items will be accepted through at least the beginning of July.
The shop will briefly close again next month for the installation of a new computer system.
To clear the shelves for more seasonable items, for two weeks beginning June 17 all merchandise will be priced at $1 or less, with the money going to the shop. Consignors have until June 13 if they want to take out their unsold items.
In 2018, the shop gave out more than $22,000 to local causes and recently gave a $1,000 donation to the FISH Food Pantry.
“The money we make is usually going out the door to someone,” said Carol Spencer, who tags the items that are brought in.
When the shop reopened Wednesday morning, Donna Phillips was one of the first shoppers in the door. The longtime customer frequently browses the shop’s housewares collection, and was looking at purses.
“Gets me out of the house,” Phillips said. “I usually buy something.”
