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Thrift store offers bargains galore; supports senior programs<br>

Shirley Barnes (left) and Barbara Mendoza of the Bill Williams Senior Center Thrift Store take a break against the clothing racks at the store recently

“It’s getting cold and it’s too far to walk to the library,” Kelley said.

After Friday, regular prices will return to the thrift store. However, prices won’t increase too much since regular prices are $1 per bag. The thrift store is stocked with donated merchandise. Items that can be found at the store includes shoes, clothing, books, toys, knick-knacks, artificial flower arrangements and even live plants in the summer.

“In the summer, we have one lady who grows plants in her home and donates them to us to sell,” Barnes said.

No one who works at the store is paid — all are volunteers. Proceeds from the thrift store are crucial to the funding of the Bill Williams Senior Nutrition Program, Meals on Wheels in addition to other programs offered at the senior center. The store relies solely on donations to survive.

“We’ll take anything,” Barnes said. “If we can’t use it here, we’ll send it somewhere else.”

It is not uncommon for unused clothing with the original store tags still attached to show up at the thrift store. Some of the nicer items that are donated — especially knick-knacks — are utilized as prizes for the senior bingo games held at the center. The staff members of the thrift store are grateful for the donations.

“People are generous. They bring in really nice stuff,” said Barnes.

Although the thrift store is located within the Williams Senior Center, everyone is encouraged to shop at the store. Many of the store’s clientele are from the Ash Fork area. “Regulars” shop at the store every day since the inventory is always changing due to incoming donations, Barnes said.

“The more who choose to shop here, the better,” Barnes said. “We have our regulars — many who have children — that purchase items here, use them and donate them back to the store for resale.”

The shelves and racks of the store are meticulously checked on a regular basis for inventory that has not sold. Items that are not sold are donated to a veteran’s hospital or another thrift store in Ash Fork.

“Nothing goes to waste here. If we don’t sell it, we pass it on to someone who can use it,” Mendoza said.

Even though the prices at the Bill Williams Senior Center Thrift Store are relatively low, if an individual is in need of an item at the store and cannot afford it, the staff will usually charge nothing for the item — especially clothing.

“We love people and love to help people,” Barnes said. “It gives me a sense of pleasure to know I’ve helped someone.”

Mendoza, who formerly helped out in the kitchen, has worked in the thrift store for two years. Barnes, who has been manager of the store for one year, has worked in the store for five years. Both Mendoza and Barnes agreed that if they did not enjoy their work at the thrift store, they would not be there.

For more information about the thrift store or the Bill Williams Senior Nutrition program, call the senior center at (928) 635-2628.


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