Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – Residents in need of clothing can look no further than the Community Thrift Shop in Fort Fairfield.
Contriibuted photo
The Community Thrist Shop opened Nov. 20 in Fort Fairfield. Located next door to Giggey’s Auto Repair on Presque Isle Street, the non-profit organization accepts donated used and new clothing and makes it available to the community by donation or free if only a few items. Attending a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the thrift shop were, from left: Janet Kelle, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce; Janet McGillan, chamber director; Karen Grass, chamber director; Carolyn Dorsey-Durepo, chamber director; Florence Davenport, co-owner; and Ruthanna McNamee, co-owner. The Community Thrift Shop is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Located next door to Giggey’s Auto Repair on Presque Isle Street, the non-profit organization officially opened Nov. 20.
“We have all clothing from children to adults … men’s, women’s, boots and shoes,” said Ruthanna McNamee, who runs the thrift shop with Florence Davenport. “We also take in curtains, bedding materials, and pocketbooks. We don’t take knickknacks or anything that takes up a lot of space … furniture and toys. We don’t throw it away if it comes in a box, but we try not to bring it in.”
It was Davenport’s idea to open a thrift shop in town.
“I had worked in the thrift shop at the Bethel Baptist Church in town for quite a few years, but we had to close,” said Davenport, “and I’ve always wanted to get back into the business. Now was a good time to start, and we saw a definite need in the community.”
Recognizing that “everybody has clothes they need to get out of the house,” McNamee said the thrift shop accepts donated used and new clothing and makes it available to the community by donation or free if only a few items.
“We don’t have price tags on anything,” she said. “We have a donation box if people would like to contribute.
“All the places in Caribou and Presque Isle that take in clothes are full, so we’ve advertised to recycle them here,” she said. “People have even brought in things with tags still on them. Anybody from any community is welcomed to donate items to the thrift shop or come and look around. We’re not limited.”
Money collected from the donation box goes to pay the rent.
“We’re very fortunate that Gary Giggey has given us a very reasonable price on rent,” said McNamee. “He had some extra space he was willing to provide us, and we appreciate that very much.
“Our needs are being met wonderfully,” she said.
Non-seasonal clothing items are stored at the Bethel Baptist Church.
McNamee said there has been a steady stream of visitors to the shop.
“[Business has been] absolutely wonderful,” she said. “We’ve been busy every day that we’re here. We’re always busy setting out clothes or helping someone find what they’re looking for.”
The Community Thrift Shop is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“In an emergency, either one of us can be called,” said McNamee, “and we will come up and open the doors.”
For more information, contact Davenport at 472-4911 or McNamee at 473-7774.
