Thrift Shop Going Strong for 30 Years

The small sign on Georgia Avenue pointing in the direction of Glenmont United Methodist Church may not look like much, but its pointing in the direction of a small store with a lengthy history in the community.

"A lot of it is word of mouth," Diane Huff, who runs the weekly thrift shop at the church, explained that the shop is so popular, they haven't felt the need to advertise recently, past the sign. When the shop opens at 10am in the bottom of the church's hall, bargain-hunters are already lining up outside the door.

For over 30 years, each Tuesday, Glenmont United has opened its thrift shop, selling a collection of donated, gently used items.

Diane Huff has worked the sale for 25 years. On a recent Tuesday morning, her husband, John Huff helped checkout customers and bag their purchases.

Prices are low, Huff says, because the space they have is already quite cramped, and they need to move items out quickly. Originally, the space was two nursery rooms.

Proceeds go to the church's non-budgeted items fund, which has paid for items like a handicap toilet, recarpeting of the church's sanctuary and a small lift intended to bring parishioners who cannot take the flight of stairs to the main church level.

Jewelry and perfume are the thrift shop's best selling items, but those usually come in large batches and quickly sell out. Only a few items of jewelry remained, but Huff hoped that the most recent donation would have cache of new baubles.

The donation arrived that morning from a church member who was helping clean out a woman's house. Several trash bags and plastic tubs full of items sat in the back stairwell. Huff said she would go through these items later in the afternoon.

As the season turns, the thrift shop will bring out more fall and winter items, including a few that have been in storage. What doesn't sell is donated to other charities.

"You never know what you're going to get." Huff said, "You have to work with what you have."

The and the 1^st Saturday of the month at the same time.