Update! Everything Old Is New Again!

Store co-manager Felicity Gage gives credit to volunteer Barbara Hardy for the store’s new interior.

“She looked at the space and helped us find a way to make the flow work better,” Felicity said. “She was the mastermind of the changes, and she was also the one who had the power tools and the skills to use them.”

The re-arranged space includes a whole wall for hanging clothes, and another whole wall for used books. The store’s landlord, Garick Kalna, is installing new track lighting to show off the merchandise.

On any given day, you can find unique and useful items at really cheap prices, and the inventory changes often. The store receives new donations nearly every day.

Felicity would also like to give credit to her co-manager Gael Hawkins, and volunteers Sharon Sjoblom, and Joseph Ramunni for help with the store’s new look.

Village Thrift is open Tuesday – Saturday, 11am - 4pm.

Here's the old news from February 4:

Village Thrift will re-open its doors after a weekof cleaning, re-organizing and re-modeling.

Managers Felicity Gage and Gael Hawkins are excited about the changes they’ll be making this week. There will be new shelves, new displays, and more and better lighting.

“Everything will be more visible and accessible,” Felicity said. “It will feel more spacious.”

“And,” she added, “There’ll be lots of hanging racks so the clothes won’t be in stacks.”

Village Thrift accepts donated items and the proceeds benefit the non-profit Ocracoke Youth Center, which is on temporary hiatus.

When Ocracoke School received a grant for a 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school program, the new program over-lapped with the Youth Center’s activities. The OYC board decided that it was in the community’s best interest to curtail Youth Center programs until the 3-year grant has run its course. Proceeds from Village Thrift are being saved to help the Youth Center re-open in 2013.

Village Thrift was established by the Youth Center in 2009, with a grant from The Outer Banks Community Foundation. The grant paid for start-up costs, custom-built shelving and storage units, three exterior and one interior sign, a donation box for inside the store, and Village Thrift t-shirts. The shop has provided an ongoing source of income for the Youth Center and brings in money from visitors as well as residents.

OYC board member Paula Schramel was the founding manager of Village Thrift. At the time, she commented that the economy was right for a thrift store.

 “We want to be ecological and encourage recycling and reuse. People won’t have to take stuff to the dump to get rid of it,” she said.

After two years of running the shop, Paula handed the reins over to Felicity and Gael, who said she is a great help to them.

“She’s always our guiding light when we have questions and concerns!” Felicity said.

Felicity and Gael have kept the shop open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., throughout the winter.

“We have a wonderful group of volunteers!” Felicity said.

Current and recent volunteers include Connie Leinbach, Jane Chestnut, Jana Ganoe, Leslie Monticone, Phyllis Wall, Genevieve Sansone, Sharon Sjoblom, Row Selman, Kati Wharton, Karen Lovejoy, Lori Masaitis, Joseph Ramunni, and Jude Wheeler. Felicity and Gael also credit John Fletcher with being “on-call” to help them with odd jobs.

Stop by and see the new and improved Village Thrift when they re-open on February 11th.  Bring some of your old stuff to donate and find something “new to you” – and remember that you’re supporting a great cause.