New Catholic Social Services Thrift Store has "mission" to accomplish
This story was first published on the Southern Cross website, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Savannah, and was written by Donell Suggs.
Photo courtesy of Donnell Suggs and the Southern Cross
AUGUSTA, GA.- The Catholic Social Services (CSS) thrift store began serving customers in 1990, selling donated goods and clothing to people of all walks of life. Proceeds from the sales have helped support Catholic Social Services of Augusta, which has its headquarters downtown. The tradition that began as a monthly yard sale continues three decades later as the new store, moved from a smaller space nearby, opened Monday, July 6.
Located at 3229 Wrightsboro Road, the new 17,000-plus square foot location has already been a popular shopping destination for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Rows and rows of clothing hung from moveable racks stationed throughout the sales floor. Signs notified customers of $2.75 shirts and $1.50 ties. Books, DVDs, furniture, electronics and toys, which each have separate sections, are available for perusal. Everything from a used treadmill (retailing at $75.00) to oil paintings and bicycles can be purchased. The store has something for everyone, and that's exactly how Philomena Mooney, the store's manager, likes it. Mooney describes the thrift store system as "the best form of recycling."
People donate items to CSS and then the CSS employees, 15 in total (seven full-time from the previous store and eight new part-time hires), and volunteers fix what needs fixing before the donations hit the floor. Minutes before the store opened Monday, July 13, Mooney had been gluing a chair together. "We have lots of volunteers, but could always use some more," said Mooney, who attends St. Mary on the Hill Church, Augusta. Volunteer applications will be available online later this month.
On a Monday morning earlier this month the store was busy with a dozen shoppers mingling about. The boutique, a small section of the store that houses more rare and not-so-everyday donations was also busy with customers. Managed by Donna Weeks Borroughs, the boutique consultant, this section is where the stores more exclusive books, statues, wood work, art, clothing and jewelry. An autographed copy of Ralph McGill's classic non-fiction book "The South and the Southerner' was available for purchase, as was a 19th century German-made brass crucifix. A porcelain statuette of Saint Francis, wedding dresses and official Masters golf tournament polo shirts were also on display. A sign that said, "No Carts in the boutique" made it known that this portion of the store was extra special. "Those are vintage things or collectibles, brand new clothes. Things that are not generally viewed as a necessity."
The old store didn't have a boutique. The new one does and Burroughs, who also doubles as the section designer, enjoys providing the service to customers. "Our new digs are incredible," she said before helping a customer at the jewelry counter. "We are out to give customers a wonderful shopping experience. Our mission is to give back to our customers like people have given to us."
Located next door to an apartment complex, car wash and Chinese buffet, if nothing else, the CSS thrift store gives its customers a unique shopping experience. Open Monday through Saturday from 8 am-6 pm, the store is closed on Sundays, the CSS thrift store, "The one and only," says Mooney of the store and its place in the community, is much-needed. "Especially now with the lack of job security during this pandemic. We have people that need and we have got people that are stuck at home, tidying up there home and are looking for alternative things to do. They are cleaning out and we have the need for it." Augusta residents donate items to CSS and the items are prices according to a general price point. "A suit is going to cost someone $5. It can be a Walmart suit or it can be a Hugo Boss suit and it's going to be the same price," said Mooney. "For the price of lunch you can get an outfit from here."
School supplies, children's clothes, timely items that parents will be looking for next month when school begins again, are also available. "And right now with people not really knowing whether their children are going to be back in the classroom you kind of are afraid to spend too much money on clothes and stuff because they may be at home. It's a good alternative to check us out first."
The store is more family-oriented than most. "It is truly a family affair," said Mooney, a mother of four adult children, two of whom are still contributing to the stores success. Mooney's daughter, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, runs the social media accounts and one of her sons is designing a billboard that will go up on Wrightsboro Road in a few weeks. It will have a large arrow point down towards the store. All of the kids grew up working in the original location. "My children grew up with me doing this mission," said Mooney. "They learned how to put stuff out, they learned how to deal with customers, they learned how to be nice and learned to recognize that people had it worse than them."
Mooney always describes the thrift store's purpose as a "mission." She believes in making things as easy as possible for families, herself having raised her kids as a single mother following a divorce. "I think the store meets a lot of different missions," she says. "Just to name a few, people's need to give back to the community. We offer a place the stuff is actually going to be used for our local community. It's just local people doing a mission of love."
The CSS thrift store also offers a voucher system for those that may not have cash in hand for the items in store. The Catholic Social Services main office determines whom may be offered the vouchers in order to shop. "It's kind of like a gift certificate to use at the store," said Mooney. "It's not just the needy that come here."
A big part of the mission, along with the donations and vouchers, are the volunteers. From moving the donations from homes to the store and onto shelves and racks, to helping as associates and cashiers in the store, the volunteer work taking place at CSS thrift store is crucial to the overall mission. "People also want to give in many different ways, said Mooney. “That could be through their time, talent and treasure.”
During the grand opening customers were paying-it-forward, several times contributing money to the balance of the person behind them. Mooney felt like the energy from the first day set a good tone going forward. "That happened several times," said Mooney of that day, "or they would say 'keep the change'. Giving back is one of the best ways to standout."
The new Catholic Social Services Thrift Store most certainly does that.