Thrift store to benefit schools
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 5, 2005 1:45 PM
The operators of a small thrift store on Center Street hope it can make a difference in public school classrooms around Wayne County.
Profits from sales at Support Our Schools at 108 N. Center Street go to help buy teacher supplies.
The business first opened in September, with Betty Phillips as owner. In May, Monica and Richard Eason took over.
The business was started as a way to help raise money to help teachers purchase needed supplies that the school system could not provide.
Mrs. Phillips' daughter is a teacher, said Mrs. Eason, so she understands how teachers sometimes feel the need to augment the supplies needed to be effective educators.
"She knew how much money her daughter had to pull out of her pocket and paycheck just to buy things for her classroom," Mrs. Eason said.
Donations of all kinds are accepted at the thrift store, from books, clothes and toys, to household items and furniture. All profits raised will be distributed to teachers at various schools.
Mrs. Eason said each time a donation is received, she writes down the school district the donor is from so that particular school can benefit. Purchases are tax deductible, she noted.
The money is distributed among the appropriate schools twice during year.
The items sold at the shop are moderately priced, Mrs. Eason said, which means profits are modest. She said public support for the shop is crucial if it is to benefit students.
"In order for this to be as helpful as possible, we are asking for the help and support of the community as a whole, but especially of all employees of Wayne County schools and the families who have students enrolled in one of our schools," she said.
"I'd really like to see it expand to a point that teachers don't have to pull any money out of their pocket. There's a lot of things that teachers want for their room that they just can't afford to buy."
The store, located between Billie's Backstreet and Citi Trends, is open weekdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For inquiries or to arrange for donation pick-up, call 735-2997.