Ellie Giovanielli, left, has volunteered at Shop on the Corner for 42 years and is shown here with volunteer Sarah Rochester. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
What is this? Shop on the Corner volunteer Persida Ambarus holds up a unique donation to the thrift store. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
There is far more to be found at Shop on the Corner, located on the bottom floor of the Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church, than steals and deals on second-hand clothes or kitchen goods.
One thing that can be spotted is a close-knit camaraderie between volunteers as they sort through plastic bags of clothing or hold up an unusual gadget or doo-dad to brainstorm what exactly it is.
There is a friendly, family-like atmosphere in the store.
Volunteer Persida Ambarus said she came to the thrift store as a customer and picked up a red chair, but she was so impressed with everyone who worked there that she decided to volunteer, too.
Finally, there is a strong sense of community within the thrift store. Everything and everyone in its walls has a purpose: to improve the community locally, in the state and across the U.S.
The thrift store has changed locations; it moved to a new room in the church. Despite the new digs, its operations are unchanged.
Volunteer Sarah Rochester explained a portion of the proceeds from the thrift store go towards Trinity on the Hill while the rest is donated to nonprofit organizations across the country. Profits also will be given to communities that have been hit by natural disasters. For instance, Rochester said they recently made donations to nonprofit organizations in Florida to assist with efforts related to Hurricane Ivan.
The store, which is opened 8:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, clears about $1,000 in weekly sales and raises approximately $50,000 annually, she said.
Anyone interested in donating will find bins outside the Shop on the Corner. Pretty much everything is accepted besides large pieces of furniture and electronics such as TVs.
“We have such a generous community,” volunteer Pam Longmire said. “They are generous to us, and we are generous to organizations in Northern New Mexico.”
Rochester agreed.
“It’s a wonderful community,” she said.
Any items that are deemed unsellable are not wasted, Rochester said. She explained they will be donated either to Big Brothers Big Sisters or given to Bernal, a small community in San Miguel County.
Longmire said they get all kinds of donations including antiques that range from dolls and toys to scales. Ambarus said one time they were given 100-year-old letters.
Ellie Giovanielli, who has volunteered at Shop on the Corner for 42 years, commended the thrift store.
“This is the best recycling we can do,” she said. “It’s about the only retail in town (and) we love meeting people.”
“We love the people we serve,” Giovanielli added. “We are happy to give things to people who have nothing for no cost.”
Shop on the Corner volunteer Valarie Prestwood helps unpack donations today at the thrift store. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
There’ s always new inventory at Shop on the Corner. Right now, the Halloween items are being replaced with Christmas decor. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
A scene from the sorting room at Shop on the Corner. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
