Darien Community Association Launches Effort To Strengthen Thrift Shop

Information via Darien Community Association

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Community Association (DCA) and Harvard Business School Community Partners are joining forces to ensure the continued success of the beloved DCA Thrift Shop.

As the shop approaches its 100th anniversary, this initiative aims to strengthen its role as a key revenue driver and equip it to serve the community for generations to come.

A vital part of Darien since its founding, the DCA Thrift Shop provides affordable shopping, supports local families, and generates funds for community programs. Through this initiative, the shop is embracing a forward-thinking approach—aligning with broader sustainability trends and ensuring its brand identity, operational efficiency, and integration with the DCA’s mission remain robust in today’s evolving retail landscape.

“At a time when people are more conscious of sustainability and community-driven businesses, it’s the perfect opportunity to assess how we can make the DCA Thrift Shop even better,” said Debra Danile, manager of the DCA Thrift Shop, in a news release. “We want to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our shoppers, donors, and volunteers.”

To guide this effort, the DCA and Harvard Business School Community Partners will gather community input through a survey, data analysis, and focus groups.

“The DCA Thrift Shop is already a success story, and we’re excited to help shape its next chapter,” said Angela Piscitello, from Harvard Business School Community Partners, in a news release. “By listening to the community first and foremost, then applying best practices, we will build a strategy that sustains revenue, boosts volunteer engagement, and aligns with the DCA’s broader community programs.”

Community members are invited to share their thoughts by taking the survey, which can be found here, by March 31. The survey takes about five to seven minutes. At the end, residents can enter a raffle for a $200 DCA Thrift Shop Gift Certificate.

For more information, visit www.DarienDCA.org or email info@dariendca.org.

About the DCA Thrift Shop
The Darien Community Association Thrift Shop has been serving the community since 1931, providing gently used clothing, household items, and more. All proceeds support the DCA’s nonprofit mission, including scholarships, events, and community programs. As the shop nears its centennial, its continued success underpins the DCA’s ability to fund vital initiatives in Darien and beyond.

About the Harvard Business School Club of Connecticut Community Partners
A nonprofit organization of Harvard Business School alumni who offer pro-bono consulting services to local nonprofits, the HBS Club of Connecticut Community Partners has a proud history of supporting community-based organizations through strategic planning and leadership development.