ALCV Bargain Box Thrift Store To Hold Ribbon Cutting In San Clemente

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — One of San Clemente's most well-loved thrift stores has some new updates, and residents are invited to attend a ribbon cutting celebration at the Bargain Box Thrift Store on May 27 to help celebrate.

"Our largest improvement is a new awning, which was sorely needed! Between acquiring a contractor, obtaining city approval and waiting for backordered fabric, it took over a year and much effort to accomplish this task," ALCV spokesperson Kathy McWade told Patch. "We are thrilled it was finally installed last week!"

Since the charter's founding in 1980, the ALCV has funneled around $5.3 million back into the community through innovative programming and the help of their all-volunteer staff.

The ALCV has about 200 volunteers chapter-wide, and this particular branch of the foundation works to provide services to both children in the Capistrano Unified School District and military families at Camp Pendleton.

"In 2020 ALCV members gave over 13,173 volunteer hours to help children and families in our community despite our challenges with the pandemic," ALCV President Joyce Helland said in a statement. "Our volunteer-run Bargain Box Thrift Store here in San Clemente allows us to pass along proceeds directly back into our local community supporting children in need."

In 2020, the ALCV put roughly $101,000 back into the community through programs such as Operation School Bell, which supplied over 700 children in the Capistrano Unified School District with back-to-school necessities such as new clothes, shoes and school supplies.

They also have a variety of programs set in place to help in-need children and military children secure grants and funding for their education.