UHNBC Auxiliary Thrift Shop Supports Hospital Equipment Fundraising
The UHNBC Auxiliary Thrift Shop raises funds for hospital equipment by offering a wide selection of unique, gently-used secondhand items. Recently, the shop celebrated its first anniversary at a new, larger location.
New Location and Expanded Space
Formerly located on Third Avenue, the Thrift Shop has moved to 1655 South Nicholson, near 15th Avenue. The new space is 600 square feet larger and includes storage on a mezzanine level, providing more room for operations.
Volunteer-Driven Team
The shop is entirely staffed by volunteers, each responsible for specific departments:
- Toys
- Wool
- Books
- Shoes
- Jewelry
Cheryl Rossignol, the Thrift Shop director, oversees the overall store and sorting processes. She highlighted the benefits of a structured workflow and sufficient space for sorting donations.
“We have one person for toys, one person for wool, one person for books — I oversee most of the stuff in the store — and the sorting. We have a whole process now and we’ve got enough room to do it,” said Cheryl Rossignol.
Additionally, a volunteer named Dale tests all electronic items to ensure they work before they are put on sale.
“He always does a great job,” Rossignol said.
Positive Feedback and Customer Service
The move to a clean, new space has brought many compliments. Volunteers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the store to improve customer service, which is a priority for the team.
“It was a clean slate we started from when we moved into the new location, and we get lots of compliments about the Thrift Shop. We like our volunteers to get to know the store themselves so they can offer better customer service, which is important to us.”
Summary: The UHNBC Auxiliary Thrift Shop has grown with a larger, well-organized space and dedicated volunteers, enhancing its fundraising efforts and customer service.