If you haven't visited the WomenSafe Resale Shoppe at 12601 Chillicothe Road in Chester lately, it's worth another visit. The store is now featuring holiday…
If you haven’t visited the WomenSafe Resale Shoppe at 12601 Chillicothe Road in Chester lately, it’s worth another visit.
The store is now featuring holiday decorations, home furnishings, children’s toys and an array of festive Christmas clothing for women and children.
“The quality of the items we receive in donations of new and gently worn items is so good, I don’t call it a thrift store,” said spokesperson Andrea Gutka.
The store expanded by adding another 1,500 square feet of retail space totalling 4,500 square feet and by adding an entire furniture and home decorating section.
“We kept receiving more and more donations of home furnishings and home decorating items,” said Gutka. “The retail store was growing in popularity and sales volume, so it was a good fit to expand the shop.”
A visit to the store revealed a rack of warm winter coats, warm sweaters, a section of bright red and green holiday tops for women and outfits for young children. Throughout the shop are new or nearly new holiday dcor items, such as Santa figures, reindeer and sleighs, holiday dinnerware and linens and more.
Women’s apparel ranges from workout clothes to casual and dress clothing to sparkly party wear. Most of it is in new or nearly new condition.
The furniture section has dining room tables, chairs, hutches, bookcases, sofas, lamps, end tables and art pieces along with dinnerware and some china and crystal pieces, all available at a bargain price.
“It’s the volunteers that work there that make the store a success,” Gutka said. “They treat it as if it was their own shop and the pride they put into it and care for our customers really shows.”
Donations of items can be made at the store. People interested in donating large items, such as furniture should call the store at 440-729-2780. Arrangements can be made to send a truck to pick up the items.
Gutka said items that are always needed at the Green House shelter include new socks for adults and children, new pillows, diapers, paper products such as plates and paper towels and new underwear. Contact the WomenSafe offices at wsdonations@windstream.net or call 440-286-7154, ext. 230.
WomenSafe will be holding a “Thanks-For-Giving” customer appreciation event Nov. 18-30, where shoppers receive 20 percent off their total purchase.
“The Resale Shoppe could not have been a success since 2011 without the generous support of our donors and shoppers,” said manager Michelle Nemunaitis. “The Thanks-For-Giving customer appreciation event is only one way that we can say thank you for making this project a successful reality.”
Through Nov. 30, customers are also asked to visit www.surveymonkey.com/r /WSRS2014 to provide feedback on their shopping and donating experience. All of those who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to receive a $25 Resale Shoppe gift certificate.
The organization is also conducting its annual Adopt-a-Family Program. You may choose to adopt a specific family currently in WomenSafe’s care or
purchase items from the shelter’s general holiday wish list, which Gutka said will help those who used the services over the previous 24 months.
“Families ravaged by domestic abuse require nearly two years of assistance to recover from their trauma and rebuild lives that are safe, and emotionally and physically healthy,” she explained. “The Adopt-a-Family program is designed to support families whose situation is frightening and dangerous, through no fault of their own.”
Proceeds from the store help fund programs for WomenSafe clients, who are victims of domestic violence. WomenSafe operates a shelter in Chardon and also provides other programs and services for those in need.
The store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
WomenSafe operates a 24-hour crisis hotline for domestic violence victims, which is 440-285-5665.
