Community Corner
Ridgefield Thrift Shop Donates $500K to Local Charities
'We are excited to give back to the community that has been so good to us..."
RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Ridgefield Thrift Shop has announced they have broken an 82-year-old record by donating half a million dollars in 2019 to local charities.
"It’s been a great year, and we are excited to give back to the community that has been so good to us," said shop President Sandra Capriotti. "Since we moved into our new expanded location at 21 Governor Street in May 2017, our donations and sales have increased tremendously. The rapid growth has exceeded our wildest dreams." This year’s grants are double those awarded in 2018.
Shop manager Karen Petrazzini credited the support the shop received from the community. "We get such generous donations on a daily basis: families who are downsizing and bring a large volume of household goods; moms dropping off toys or clothing their kids have outgrown; people sharing valuable jewelry they no longer wear, or electronics they no longer use. We are constantly amazed at the quality and diversity of wonderful items we receive."
Capriotti said that the success of the shop rests not only on the community’s donations, but also on its team of volunteers. “We are an all-volunteer non-profit organization, and there are more than 100 dedicated members who work tirelessly to help make the shop succeed. They are the engine that keeps the shop running smoothly.”
Carol Grasso, who has been a volunteer for more than 30 years, is thrilled to see the growth at the new shop.
"It’s changed so much since we moved to the beautiful new location," she says. "A lot more donations, a lot more shoppers, and more and more money to give away! It’s so exciting to work for the good of our community."
The Grant Selection Committee reported that this year’s grant recipients include 71 different local non-profit organizations. The recipients were divided into seven different categories: arts and culture, community outreach, community services, health, nature/conservation, seniors and youth.
"There are so many deserving non-profits in the greater Ridgefield community," said finance committee chairperson Debbie Murphy. "It was a very challenging selection process. We try to support a cross-selection of non-profits, including everything from nursing and hospice services to the arts community to food pantries to nature trails and even to local animal shelters."
The Ridgefield Thrift Shop is located at 21 Governor Street.
