FORT POLK, La. - The thrill a shopper gets from finding a bargain is
probably akin to the adrenaline rush felt by hunters cornering prey.
Walking out with a well-made purchase can give shoppers a heady feeling of
success and accomplishment. Like a bloodhound after a scent, good
clearance sale shoppers scour stores looking for the items they’re after.
On Fort Polk, one of the best places to find gently used items at
economical prices is the Thrift Shop. This post staple has recently moved
from its old location across from the Main Post Exchange on Colorado
Avenue. to Alabama Avenue. The Thrift Shop, which takes cash or checks
only, is now housed in bldg 2531, in the last barracks building on the
right.
To celebrate the move, a grand opening was held Jan. 12 to welcome
customers to the new location. Laura Garrison, store manager, said many
people stopped by the new shop before they were officially open. “People
were practically beating down the door before we were open because they
get bargains here that they aren’t going to get anywhere else like clothes
from between 5 to 50 cents. We try to put our stuff at a low price that
anybody can afford it, no matter what their income.”
One shopper looking for bargains was Gwen Black. “I like to shop at the
Thrift Shop because they have such good deals. I stopped by today with my
daughter to look for some toys and clothes for her. She grows out of her
things pretty quickly. I think the pants she has on right now came from
here,” said Black.
But the Thrift Shop has more than just clothes. It’s filled with a variety
of items. “We always have books, games, toys, DVDs, kitchen items,
clothing, shoes and purses. Sometimes we have jewelry, toiletry items and
larger items like furniture. The only challenge is this building is a
little smaller than the old one. So we’re going to have to take larger
items as we have room for them. Customers are always looking for
furniture, but people need to call before bringing any big furniture items
to make sure we have a spot for it,” said Garrison.
Items folks want to put on consignment at the Thrift Shop should be
brought by on Thursdays between 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. or the first and
third Saturdays of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. No more than 15
pieces are allowed to be consigned per person and of these only 10 can be
clothing. Items stay on consignment for no more than 3 months. For more
information about pricing and percentages or any other questions patrons
are urged to call the Thrift Shop at 531-0459.
The Thrift Shop is run by both paid employees and volunteers. “Our
volunteers come in for a few hours here and there to help go through
donations. We appreciate all the help we get, but we’re pretty good with
volunteers right now,” said Garrison.
Sherylyn Gibson, treasurer for the Thrift Shop Board and regular shop
volunteer, said the Thrift Shop is a necessity for many. “It helps a lot
of single and young Soldiers with Families. We have tons of ladies coming
in here for maternity and baby items. Newlyweds come in looking for
household items. There is a constant turnover because as we are bringing
the donations in, employees are pricing it, putting it out on the floor
and it’s going right back out the door,” said Gibson.
In addition to helping Soldiers and Family members find necessary items at
economical prices, the Thrift Shop is a nonprofit organization that uses
the money it makes to benefit the Fort Polk community. “Organizations can
come to the Thrift Shop to get a form and fill it out. The board receives
the requests and if approved, the organization gets the money. For
example, every year $10,000 is earmarked for the Officers’ Spouses’ Club
scholarship fund. This year we gave $3,000 to the toy drive. We give to
organizations such as boy and girl scouts. We give to schools, if they
have a majority of military students that attend their campus. We don’t
give to individuals. It’s always an organization,” said Gibson.
Joyce Baird, chairperson of the Thrift Shop Board and volunteer, said, “We
help so many different organizations here on post and in the surrounding
community with their financial needs. They let us know what they need and
what it’s for. The committee meets and we vote on it. The Thrift Shop
Board has representatives from all the commands here on post. All money,
after the Thrift Shop’s operating expenses are taken out, goes back into
the community.”
That commitment to the community doesn’t go unnoticed. Thrift Shop
customer Tina Robinson said, “I like to save money but I also like to
purchase things at the Thrift Shop because they help by giving money back
to the community. My favorite thing to shop for is books, but if I see
something that catches my eye and I need it, I get it.”
Baird said helping all those people is one of the reasons she loves to
volunteer at the shop. She said people of every age come into the Thrift
Shop and she likes to hear their stories –– happy and sad. “We once had a
young female Soldier come into the store. She was very excited because it
was the first time she had her own apartment. She needed everything. We
had so much fun helping her find what she needed. We actually had
furniture at that time and she furnished her entire apartment for around
$150. She was so excited and happy she was dancing out the door. It was a
lot of fun for us to help her,” said Baird.
Dee Meeks shops at the store on a regular basis. “I usually shop at the
Thrift Store once every week or two. I like it because you can find a lot
of nice things at really good prices. My husband is lower in rank and we
have three kids and this is an economical way of being able to get the
stuff that you need,” said Meeks.
The Thrift Shop takes almost any type of donation. “If we aren’t open,
there’s a bin outside. We ask people to drop things off in the bin or
bring it inside when the doors are open,” said Baird.
Since tax season is beginning, anyone who wants a tax deduction on items
they’re donating should come in during the Thrifts Shop’s regular hours,
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or on the first and third
Saturday of each month from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. “If people want a tax
deduction for their donation, they should bring their items in and we’ll
fill out a piece of paper they can use for deductions,” said Garrison.
If you’re curious about the new Thrift Shop location, stop by and check
things out. “We want to get the word out about the move because we want
donations and shoppers. People need to come in and get those bargains and
help us help the community,” said Baird.
Listen with Mike Holt
