BIG SAVINGS

You can’t go too far wrong buying clothes for the kids at 25 cents — or something for yourself for only 50 cents.
Those are the regular prices at the Clothes Closet, 103 W. Buffalo, Girard.
“We’ve also had $1 per bag sales when changing from one seasonal clothing line to another,” said Fleta Rose, president of the cabinet that governs the thrift shop. “This year for change-over we have instituted a policy of all clothing for 25 cents.”
The shop opened on Sept. 15, 2005 as a project of Church Women United. Seven churches participate and provide volunteer workers — Farlington Methodist Church, Girard Methodist Church, Christian, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Catholic Churches.
“Our hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday,” Rose said. “Each church provides volunteer workers twice monthly during the week and one Saturday every six weeks.”
The shop is located in a remodeled house.
“The Girard Methodist Church bought this house and allows us to use it rent-free,” Rose said. “We pay utilities, taxes and operating expenses.”
She said that the thrift store committee cleaned the house thoroughly and made improvements to it, including adding air conditioning. Items sold are donated by the community.
“Our donation room is unlocked at all times, and is reached by entering from the alley,” Rose said.
Soiled or torn clothing is never hung out.
“We have very nice merchandise,” said Shirley Burks, a newcomer who has been on the cabinet board only a few months. “We have one room for children’s clothing, one for men’s clothing and one for women’s clothing.”
She added that items are organized by size.
“The people who shop here are very good,” Burks said. “When they try something on, they usually either buy it or put it back on the rack where they got it.”
In January 2007 the Clothes Closet purchased a storage barn to hold out-of-season clothing.
“These storage boxes happen to be banana boxes which we obtain free from charge from Family Super,” Rose said. “Previously we had purchased chicken boxes for $4 each, so we appreciate obtaining the banana boxes.”
Clothing that is not carried over is donated to Southeast Kansas Recycling, Pittsburg.
To date, the CC has grossed $19,363. At the end of its first year, the group gave $1,000 to the Ministerial Alliance and $250 to the children’s program operated by Frankie Dunnick and Judy Gifford. During 2007 the CC gave $1,500 to the Ministerial Alliance and $500 to the children’s program.
“We also gave 20 $10 gift certificates for clothing which were placed in Christmas food baskets delivered by the Ministerial Alliance,” Rose said. “So far this year we have given the Ministerial Alliance $1,500.”
The Clothes Closet workers have also collected some heartwarming stories of people helped by the shop.
“One Saturday a young man came in and said he was going to be a best man at a wedding that afternoon,” Rose said. “We found a pair of tuxedo paints with the shiny strip down the sides, a white shirt and tie, shoes and socks.”
A few months ago another young man came around noon and said he needed nice clothing for a school presentation that afternoon. He got slacks, a white shirt, jacket and shoes, all for $1.
“On another occasion, a woman came in and got a lot of clothing for her children,” Rose said. “She was a cancer patient and a benefit had just been held for her, so we said that the children’s clothing would be our donation for that.”
Worker appreciation events are held twice a year at the home of Bob and Fleta Rose — a June picnic and a December Christmas party. Volunteers have a good time, at the parties and at the shop as well.
“We have stereo music and comfortable temperatures, and the shop is clean and pleasant,” Rose said. “We want it to be nice for the shoppers and for the workers.”
Cabinet members include Bob and Fleta Rose of the First Christian Church; Bertha Shriver of the First Baptist Church, Girard; Elaine Sauer, Catholic Church; Juanita Payne, Presbyterian Church; Shirley Burks, Girard Methodist Church; Truman and Ruth Hughes, Baptist Church; Eda Bever, Farlington Methodist Church; and Bertha Curran, Lutheran Church.