From Garage Sale to Thrift Shop, Local Volunteers Support Hospice

It all started with a garage sale and a mission to help families through the often-painful time of hospice care.

Seven years later, in San Leandro provides an important source of monthly income to help keep open the for seriously-ill children.

“Doing this is our passion,” said Lorraine Heether, assistant manager of the shop. 

Treasures Hospice Thrift Shop, located in a small storefront on Washington Avenue, just south of downtown San Leandro, is run by two minimally-paid employees and around 30 volunteers, ranging in age from 62 to 91.

Although the shop’s manager, Dee Gonzales, is almost 80 years old, she still finds the energy to run the store.

“It’s hard work, but when you have a purpose and a goal, the energy comes,” she said.

In April 2004, Gonzales and a group of about 12 volunteers held garage sales of their personal belongings behind San Leandro’s to raise money to start the shop. They held sales throughout that summer and collected donations.

The money was enough to paint, secure fixtures, get permits and find a location for a thrift shop. For the first round of merchandise to be sold at the shop, volunteers went around to other thrift stores that were closing and asked for donations. 

Treasures Hospice opened its doors for business in October 2004.

Most volunteers working at the shop on a recent day had an interest in helping support hospice care because they've known someone who needed it.

“When my son passed away it made me more aware of the people in need,” said Gonzales.

But Gonzales felt it would be too painful for her to volunteer with patients at George Mark. 

“It’s too heart-rendering. When you’ve already gone through it, it’s very difficult to watch.” Raising money for the home was the next best thing.

The store initially began donating $2,000 a month to George Mark. However, due to the poor economy and the increased competition from garage sales around San Leandro, the store had to limit the size of its donations to $1,300 a month, Gonzales said.

Still, volunteers are dedicated to keeping the thrift shop up and running.

“A woman who used to volunteer here had to take two buses to work everyday,” said Pat Canada, who serves as secretary of the thrift shop's board of directors.

“The people here are just so committed.”

The shop has a wide array of items for sale, including china, paintings, vintage clothing, jewelry, books and shoes. Just about the only thing it doesn’t sell is electronics.

For the volunteers, it's a labor of love.

“The people here sometimes work days they don’t get paid for,” said Heether. “But when you love it, you’re willing to go that extra mile.”