Facing a constant struggle to consistently raise money for local
nonprofits, longtime Community Food Bank of San Benito County
volunteer Pat St. John a couple years back approached the group’s
board about an idea for a stable stream of income
– a thrift shop.
Facing a constant struggle to consistently raise money for local nonprofits, longtime Community Food Bank of San Benito County volunteer Pat St. John a couple years back approached the group’s board about an idea for a stable stream of income – a thrift shop.
Community Food Bank’s board members weren’t initially all that excited about the idea. But they reluctantly gave in. A store called Pat’s Place opened in July 2009, and nobody has regretted it since.
The traditional thrift shop at the corner of Fifth and Sally streets – selling everything from furniture to clothing, books, tools or toys and more – has grown tremendously since its opening.
Last year, the thrift shop had sales of $134,343 and donated $78,150 to the food bank, which honored Pat’s Place as its “Hunger Fighter of the Year” in February. On Tuesday, the county board will add to the accolades for Pat’s Place by recognizing its fundraising achievements in a special resolution.
Revenues come to about $2,000 to $2,500 per week – which means a lot of stuff is moving to and from the store. Many of the smaller items sell for a buck or two, while some of the bigger-ticket furniture pieces, such as a $40 couch displayed Friday, can go for a bit more.
St. John said the store’s fundraising goals have continually jumped, starting at around $1,000 per week, and how the staff has set the current milestone at $3,000 for a week.
A big reason for the success to this point has been the dedication of St. John and about 30 other unpaid volunteers, most donning traditional, red “Pat’s Place T-shirts, who help in keeping costs down. She mentioned how the store doesn’t keep a rigid schedule for the workers. Many will simply select a day and work then, while others will just walk in and ask if they can help out.
Plus, everything in the store is donated.
“We don’t buy anything,” St. John said Friday at the store, which was bustling as usual with customers and donors unloading furniture and other goods. And the food bank ultimately benefits because it receives all proceeds.
See the full story in Tuesday’s edition of the Free Lance.
