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JBSA News
NEWS | Aug. 23, 2012

Thrift Shop opening: grand day for treasure hunters and the budget minded

By Cheryl Harrison 502nd Force Support Squadron Marketing

The Fort Sam Houston Thrift Shop opened its doors in grand fashion Aug. 18 with a large group of bargain hunters waiting outside the entry.

"Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who worked long and hard hours," said Stephanie Crotty, thrift shop chairperson and the person who spearheaded the shop's creation. "We are thrilled to serve our military families."

Among the special guests helping with the ribbon cutting were Brig. Gen. Theresa C. Carter, commander of 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio; Col. John Lamoureux, 502 Mission Support Group commander and JBSA and 502 ABW Command Chief Master Sgt. Jose LugoSantiago.

"Thrift Shops around the world give back to the community in scholarships, which is a huge benefit," Carter said.

"I am a huge proponent of thrift shops. I have donated tons of stuff over the years and it is great when preparing to PCS," the general added. "It is also a philosophy, that if there is any ounce of life left in something I'd rather have somebody else make use of it, and if it contributes to scholarships and goodwill that is even better."

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the doors were thrown open and a crowd of more than 75 people filed inside to search for a perfect treasure at a budget price.

Customers found tastefully arranged furniture, home decorating items, sporting goods, children's things and that was only on one side of the building. The other half of the shop housed clothing, kitchen items, jewelry, books and toys, as well as a great variety of gently used baby items.

The building was originally a barracks and more recently it was used for classrooms. Now it is a spacious thrift shop, filled with furniture, clothing, house wares and other items.

With more than 25 volunteers on hand to help during the opening day of business, customers were busy browsing, buying and even a few consigning.

"This is well organized and very nice," said shopper Suzi Andrews.

The home of the newly opened thrift shop is located in Building 1154 at 3100 Zinn Road.

The shop is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with consignments taken until 1 p.m. Also it is open the third Saturday of each month, unless it is a holiday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with consignments taken until noon.

The thrift shop is operated by the Spouses' Club of the Fort Sam Houston Area and is designated as a non-profit 501(c)(7) organization not associated with the federal government.

The thrift shop provides authorized personnel a convenient medium to sell or to purchase previously owned merchandise and generates funds from a percentage of sales from consigned items and the profits made from donated items. The funds raised are for the use of the Spouses' Club in accordance with its constitution.

Consignments are limited to 12 items daily, with no more than three like items. The shop retains a 25 percent commission of the selling price, with a minimum selling price of $3. Consignees must remove any remaining items left at the end of the 60 days of the consignment period or they automatically become a donation.

For information about the Thrift Shop, call 221-5794 or visit http://www.scfsh.com.