Community Table to operate thrift shop

The Thrifty Table will be located in a side room of building that houses the Community Table, just off the dining room, and will offer an assortment of kitchen and household items.

The grand opening of the Thrifty Table will be Saturday, Aug. 17, during the Community Table Jubilee. The soup kitchen will celebrate its third anniversary with a carnival and family fun day this Saturday.

Donations are being accepted for kitchen, bedroom, bath, craft and decorating items such as dishes, glassware, linens, pots and pans, lamps and kitchen gadgets. Clothes or furniture cannot be accepted due to space limitations.

Members of the Community Table's board of directors decided to open the thrift shop to give customers access to reasonably priced household items. The store will also be open to the public.

Proceeds from the store will be used to offset the rising operating costs at the Community Table, such as rent, utilities and equipment upkeep.

"Our operating costs have skyrocketed during a recent rash of equipment failures," said Linda McElroy, chairman of the Community Table's board of directors. "Both our large walk-in freezer and our refrigerator have failed, and we do not have enough money to replace them."

The store will be open from 2 until 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Volunteers are needed to staff the Thrifty Table.

"If you would like to help feed the hungry in Jackson County, but are not interested in cooking or serving in the kitchen, volunteering to help in the thrift store or bringing in items to donate are excellent ways to help," said McElroy.

Also, a paid senior aide position is available for someone to manage the store, said McElroy. To qualify, the applicant must be 55 or older and have an income at or below $10,000 for a single-person household or $13,265 for a two-person household. The aide must work 20 hours each week.

"Having the thrift shop will not only help our customers have access to the things they need and give people a place to donate unwanted items, but it will help keep the Community Table open to feed the hungry," said McElroy.

The Community Table's Thrift Shop grand opening will be held during Jubilee Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., a celebration of the local soup kitchen's third anniversary.

Back to Archive: 08/15/02.