Wednesday, March 20, 2002
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Wednesday, March 20, 2002 |
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Local thrift shop expands again By JANET
McGREGOR
The title of the shop is The Clothes Less Traveled, but you will find much more than gently used clothes in the store. Located on the corner of Huddleston Road and Fulton Court in Peachtree City, the thrift store has almost anything a person could want for their home. Of course, the items in the store can change from day-to-day if you can't find what you are looking for today, it may just come in the next. Just as the name of the store doesn't fully describe its contents, the term "thrift store" doesn't fully describe the store itself. The Clothes Less Traveled is a nonprofit organization. All proceeds from sales are donated to Fayette County charitable organizations and the community. Some of the groups that have benefited from the proceeds more than $70,000 since the store opened include the Joseph Sams School, Fayette Senior Services, Camp Ivy and the Good Shepherd Humane Society. The nonprofit group also awards scholarships to students who volunteer and are involved in the community. The group donates items to those who may have gone through the trauma of a fire or other similar tragedy. Local churches also send their needy to the store for help on occasion. The Clothes Less Traveled is staffed entirely by community volunteers. Volunteers are asked to serve at least one three-hour stint a month. Most try to do more. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The three-hour shifts are from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to work in pairs. Volunteer Coordinator Norma Weizenauer glows when she talks about the benefits of volunteering at the thrift store. "The work we do is invaluable. It's not just what we give away, it's the people we help," she said. "I love interacting with people. You get back what you give." Although the thrift store is not affiliated with any denomination or church, it was started by Mary Ann Cox, Director of Religious Education at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and some others in the church. "Folks were always bringing things to the church thinking we could distribute the items to those in need," said Cox. "That wasn't always possible." Seeing the need, she came up with the idea of a community thrift store. Her idea was obviously a good one; the store is undergoing its third expansion since opening in 1997. When they first opened, the store occupied two of the storefronts in the building. The second expansion increased their presence by one storefront. They now occupy all five storefronts facing Huddleston Road. The group is always willing to take slightly used clothing in good condition and working household items. They are struggling with the problem of individuals leaving items in the parking lot in the evening and after hours. In addition to being unsightly, some of the items are not suitable for resale or donations. The volunteers have asked that all items be delivered during store hours, Monday-Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For the habitual shopper, The Clothes Less Traveled is an ideal place to shop without guilt every purchase is a donation to someone less fortunate. It's also an ideal place to deliver the furniture next time you redecorate, or to take the clothes you've outgrown next time you clean out the closet to make room for new purchases. For more information on the store, call 770-486-8517.
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