Hidden in the lot behind the ornate edifice of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is an unassuming, white brick building with a simple sign identifying it as St. Paul’s Thrift Shop. Once inside, one can easily navigate the small, but organized interior, filled with a multitude of items, from pajamas to dolls to picture frames to a panini press. Open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., this thrift shop is supported by volunteers from the church who dedicate their time each week to this small business.
Around 1986, then Assistant Director of the church Ms. Josephine Taylor came up with the idea for a thrift shop after working with another church that had one. After securing a loan, making plans, and organizing volunteers, the shop became a reality, located in the basement of the church where accessibility and opportunities for expansion were relatively limited. Ten years later, the church was able to purchase the land on which the current storefront is situated. After renovations by the local Habitat for Humanity, St. Paul’s Thrift Shop officially became its own building. For more than 30 years, the store has provided economic support to the church and has been a great way to connect the church with the Wallingford community.
Prices are more than reasonable, ranging from 25 cent mugs and greeting cards to ten dollar full suits. Occasionally, a really nice item may warrant a $20 tag, but it is rare that any item exceeds ten dollars. Donations are brought in by both members of the parish and other residents of Wallingford. When switching out seasonal clothes, the store often has a bag sale, where, for the low price of six dollars, customers are given a bag to fill with anything they would like. The store aims not to maximize profit, but to aid the community, so the prices are lower than other local thrift and consignment stores such as Salvation Army and Goodwill, making it the ideal location for anyone from families struggling to make ends meet to students looking for an easy bargain.
For the volunteers, it’s a joy to see both new and returning customers alike and to be able to form close bonds with members of the community. “There used to be a lady who would come in with her little kids and now, although she’s no longer a regular, whenever she visits, I always ask about them, even though they’re now in college and beyond,” said Ms. Jane Smith, the Director of Scheduling for the thrift shop who has been volunteering since the store’s inception. St Paul’s Thrift Shop also opens up to those in need, offering all items in the store to families undergoing especially tough times for no charge. “That’s what keeps me here, seeing and getting to know the customers, and knowing that I’m helping the church I grew up in,” said Ms. Smith.
But it all comes down to the people, both customers and volunteers alike. “It’s a labor of love for the people who [volunteer],” states Ms. Smith. Mrs. Kim Nardi, who has been volunteering for more than two years, voiced her agreement, saying, “Oftentimes, customers will come knowing a certain volunteer or community member is going to be there.”
St. Paul’s Thrift Shop is really a family business, passed down through each generation of parishioners, with each one creating better relations with the store’s visitors. Volunteer Mr. Ralph Nardi explained, “Every time we’re here, we know that we’re serving a good purpose for this community.”
