St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary Upscale Thrift Store celebrated on May 8 its achievement of reaching $3 million in sales since opening in 2007, coinciding with the store’s 19th anniversary.
Angie Patterson, manager of St. Mary’s gift shop and thrift store, said, “The credit goes to all of our wonderful Auxiliary volunteers who make this store possible. We are blessed with a dedicated and hard-working group of volunteers who are committed to raising funds for St. Mary’s and who love operating the store, thanking our donors, and assisting our customers.”
Jeff Brown, St. Mary’s Senior Vice President of Operations, addressed volunteers at the event by saying, “Our volunteers are amazing. We are forever grateful for your commitment and dedication to our health care ministry. On behalf of everyone at St. Mary’s, it is my honor to say thank you.” Kathy Ricks, Auxiliary president, said, “Our thrift store volunteers have fun and work hard, which is a great combination for success. Their passion and the generosity of our donors is what keeps our store thriving and filled with a great selection of quality merchandise. Shopping is an adventure because you never know what you will find, but you know it will be good.”
The concept for the upscale thrift store began in 2007 when then-Auxiliary President Wanda Lash-Sorenson identified a need for a high-end thrift option in Athens. The idea was approved by both the Auxiliary Board and St. Mary’s Health Care System Board of Directors later that year; renovations were funded by a loan from St. Mary’s Foundation before opening on April 22, 2008.
In its first six weeks after opening on Broad Street in Athens, volunteers sold $17,268 worth of goods as part of an effort that continues today through volunteer labor soliciting donations as well as cleaning and preparing items for sale.
Brown said that after covering expenses—including repaying renovation loans—the thrift operation has generated approximately $1.5 million for hospital services over nearly two decades: “Because of their support,” he said regarding auxiliary efforts through the shop, “we are better able to acquire needed equipment, improve access to care, and offset the cost of care for those who are uninsured or underinsured. Everyone who volunteers, donates to or shops at our Auxiliary’s thrift store helps us provide dignity, comfort and hope to patients, especially those who are most vulnerable or in desperate circumstances.”
