Martine Patrick has been the manager of the Napa Methodist Women’s Thrift Shop for more than 20 years.
It feels great to be open again, Patrick said. “We’re hoping that we have the same customers,” returning once again to buy.
The church and shop regularly accept donations which are then curated by the volunteers. “We get so much stuff,” said Patrick. Some items are passed on to Goodwill. The rest is put out for sale.
In a normal year, the shop generates about $8,000 to $10,000 a year, said Patrick. From that, money is donated to Methodist missions across the U.S. and world.
“We’re here to help the community, the homeless,” said Patrick.
Volunteer Pat Parker helped manage admission to the shop this past Tuesday morning. For social distancing purposes, a limited number of shoppers are allowed inside at any one time.
“We’re so excited about opening because we want to be able to serve people who need our items and be able to donate what we make to our missions,” said Parker.
Pre-pandemic, Parker said that the store would have as many as 50 shoppers. “We have a lot of people that come here every Tuesday,” she said.
“We have a great shop with a lot of wonderful, interesting objects,” said Patrick. “Everything you need in your household. Please come and stop at our little, ‘big’ shop.”