2,000-Plus Costumes Donated to the Deer Hill Thrift Shop

(Danbury, Conn.) -- The Walter Schalk School of Dance has donated more than 2,000 theater costumes and accessories to the First Congregational Church of Danbury’s Deer Hill Thrift Shop.

Mr. Schalk closed his dance school after 60 years of dance lessons and theatrical productions in Fairfield County. He chose to donate a portion of his stock, because the Deer Hill Thrift Shop offers a low-cost costume rental program for school theater and dance programs in the area.

He was delighted to learn about Deer Hill’s costume rental program for theater programs at Danbury area schools. After 60 years of teaching dance and producing shows, he understands how important the performing arts are for children’s development and confidence.

“Our program provides low-cost costume rentals to local children’s theater programs,” thrift shop manager Pat Moriarty explained. “We are so grateful to Walter for generously donating these beautiful costumes and accessories. They will be such a boost to the children who will perform in them.”

The performing arts are a vital component of a comprehensive education that equips students with essential skills and abilities beyond traditional academic subjects. Incorporating performing arts into a school's curriculum provides students with an opportunity to develop their creativity, self-expression, communication, and teamwork skills.

The Deer Hill Thrift Shop’s costume rental program allows teachers and directors to access high-quality costumes at a very low price, which leaves more room in schools’ budgets for other aspects of their productions.

“Our thrift shop is a shining example of our congregation’s commitment to our community and the performing arts,” said Rev. Dr. Pat Kriss, pastor of the First Congregational Church. “Theater programs on a shoe-string budget now have the opportunity to provide these enriching programs, which are especially beneficial to children’s families that otherwise cannot afford buy or rent costumes on their own.”

How the Deer Hill Thrift Shop Supports the Greater Danbury Community

The Deer Hill Thrift Shop is a community outreach mission of the First Congregational Church of Danbury that is 100 percent run and managed by volunteers. Donations of clothes, books, housewares and more are sold to the community at very low prices. Income from the Thrift Shop helps support the Church’s outreach to local agencies that serve the people of Danbury.

Deer Hill’s Theater Rental program is targeted to schools and theater programs with high quality costumes at low-cost. For Information about the thrift shop and costume rentals, call the church office at 203-744-6177.

About the First Congregational Church of Danbury

Programs at the First Congregational Church of Danbury include Family Nights that feature a rotating schedule of movies, trivia games and karaoke. We also sponsor a non-denominational Children’s Community Chorus that is open to all Danbury area children from second grade through junior high.

Our sanctuary is an affordable and sought-after concert venue that features regular performances from the Danbury Music Centre, the Connecticut Master Chorale and the Mad Hatter Chorus.

Founded in 1696, the First Congregational Church of Danbury is a community of people who have come together to serve God the way that Jesus did -- by working to make God’s vision of a peaceful, just and inclusive world a reality.

The church is a member of the United Church of Christ denomination, which believes that God is still speaking in ways that are grounded in ancient Christian understandings, but which are fresh expressions of the Divine presence in contemporary life.

Learn more about the First Congregational Church at Facebook and YouTube.