Assistance League Thrift Store: The hidden gem - - Fullerton Observer

Community Voices

I met Donna Barnard connected Saturday, November 12th to circuit the thrift store. She was wearing a sweater and pants, an Assistance League Thrift Store outfit she bought. Donna introduced maine to the President of Assistance League, Gayle Chiotte, who gave maine a circuit of the facilities.

The Assistance League of Fullerton (ALF) opened the thrift store astatine 233 W. Amerige, Fullerton, successful 1959, and it has been going beardown since. It is staffed by ALF members and the Assisteens who lone enactment connected Saturday. I spoke with 2 Assisteens who had started volunteering determination 2 years agone erstwhile they were 11 years-of-age. One said that it felt bully seeing the benefits of bargains for customers.

The wealth from the thrift store benefits the assemblage needs of not conscionable Fullerton, but La Habra, Placentia, Brea, Yorba Linda, and Buena Park. For Thanksgiving determination were baskets containing donated turkeys and each the trimmings provided by the Assisteens. Some of the assistance provided are monies for a buying spree astatine Target for the acquisition of schoolhouse covering and supplies, and for scholarships to precocious schoolhouse students astatine LaVista. Monies are fixed successful the signifier of scholarships to Fullerton Joint Union High School District students and California State University Fullerton. The students and their families successful request are referred by the schools.

It was eleven o’clock connected Saturday erstwhile I arrived, and the store was crowded with customers sorting done upgraded thrift clothing, purses, jewelry, books, housewares, art, purses, ornaments, games, dishes, glassware, and accessories. All items were neatly displayed, and I was drawn to an enclosed country which was added connected past twelvemonth that held galore Christmas items. I could person spent hours looking astir astatine each the items, and I couldn’t hold to shop!

A backmost country contains donated items which were being sorted, hung connected hangers, and priced. Donations travel from property and store sales, and what 1 subordinate said, our grateful and faithful returning donors. Most donors and shoppers cognize of Assistance League Thrift Store by connection of mouth. Perhaps with this nonfiction they volition cognize much due to the fact that of the Fullerton Observer. The concealed is out!

I met a lawsuit who came to the thrift store erstwhile she was a kid with her parent and present her girl comes present making it 3 generations of shoppers! One antheral was trying connected a bluish overcoat that looked marque new! Unhoused oregon what we utilized to telephone stateless radical are fixed a escaped outfit.

Young radical person besides been drawn to store thrift stores and bargain items astatine a debased price, e.g., $5 and resell it connected the Internet websites specified arsenic Facebook Market and the app, Offer Up for $60. It is called “up-thrifting.”

I talked with regular customers, Anthony Apodaca and Lauren Ybama who were carrying an antique woody breadstuff container to purchase. They often store present for furnishings and different household items. As with different customers, they were excited astir their bargain finds.

Next doorway astatine 223 W Amerige is the Operation School Bell (OSB) gathering containing uniforms, backpacks, and underwear for accepted kindergarten and simple students. Hygiene items for precocious schoolhouse students specified arsenic deodorant and insubstantial were requested by the schools for students. This programme is operated by the Chairman of OSB, Ellie Westenhaver. On 2 of the walls are murals painted by Tony and Judi Trasport, longtime Fullerton artists. Meals connected Wheels shares the building. Other ways the Assistance League of Fullerton raises funds is done the existent benefit, “Sock it to Um” and the “Taste of the Town,” which volition beryllium held successful Hanger 21 the archetypal Saturday successful June 2023. So enactment Assistance League Thrift Store astatine 233 W Amerige connected your calendars for Tuesday, Thursday or/and Saturday from 10 americium to 3pm for a “real treat.”

By the way, I bought a fewer items, and aft my girl and a person work this article, they were excited to spell to the Fullerton Assistance League Thrift Store! And retrieve that what you walk benefits radical successful need.