Grace Community Center to celebrate ‘grand re-opening’ of expanded thrift store
When the Grace Community Center was conducting services and special events at its community center on Hancock Bridge Parkway, its thrift store was wedged in the corner of the facility, almost out of sight from the public.
Now, with the Grace United Methodist Church no longer allocating specific special events space, the thrift store has become the big winner. On Saturday, the store will celebrate its “grand re-opening,” with the thrift store now one of the primary areas in the facility.
There will be all kinds of specials on items such as books, coffee and cookies, and other fun stuff.
The thrift shop, which opened in 2008, will see its square footage more than triple as it takes the space that the special events once took, a relief to Donna Linder, thrift store manager.
“We started with about 5,000 square feet and moved into the larger section of the building with more than 15,000 square feet. The thrift store supports all the different ministries and community outreaches that we hold within the church,” Linder said.
The move will allow the thrift shop to help more people who need it and continue more ministries within the church, of which the church has more than 80.
Among them are “Exceptional Entrepreneurs” for special needs kids, a food pantry, bike ministry and much more, Linder said.
With more space, Linder said she expects the store to offer more of the things people come for in a much more presentable fashion.
“You can find things like shoes or clothes, kitchenware, houseware dcor, and there’s a specialty boutique area with designer and brand-name clothes for much less than you would find in a store,” Linder said. “You name it and you have a good chance to find it.”
Grace United Methodist Church has multiple sites throughout the area and boasts about 3,000 members.
The thrift shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended hours on Wednesday to 5:30 p.m.