Finding stories about good people doing good things can sometimes be a challenge. Other times, the “goodness factor” is so obvious one cannot help but see the difference people are making in the lives of others. For residents and visitors of Grays Harbor County, that goodness is seen and felt daily by the staff, clients and customers of a charming and unassuming boutique called Anchor Avenue Thrift Store. Located at 848 Anchor Avenue NW, the store is run by the Galilean Lutheran Church of Ocean Shores. Established in 1987, Anchor Avenue Thrift Store operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Stepping inside the doors, it’s apparent this is no ordinary thrift store. The staff is welcoming and helpful, the air is fresh, and upbeat music plays on surround sound as shoppers peruse the aisles. “People always tell us this is the cleanest, most organized, and best smelling thrift store they’ve ever been to,” says Manager Elissa Loudenback who, alongside Assistant Manager Brandy Lavesque, oversees staff members and volunteers.
Set up in well-lit and labeled sections, the store contains assortments of outdoor and garage gear, hardware, lamps, toys, frames, lamps, vases, and décor including coastal, nautical and beach-themed items. Dishware, kitchenware, electronics, vintage records, and a linen department with towels, tablecloths and more beckon shoppers. Finer items, high quality jewelry, classic books, and more are displayed in a locked case. One of the most popular sections holds a wide assortment of handbags, scarves, and hats, as well as shoes and clothing for all ages and sizes.
The book room is a quiet area boasting a huge selection of books displayed in well-marked categories, including a wide variety of children’s books. The space was designed for people to sit down, be comfortable, talk with a friend or look at magazines.
“We have a few husbands that like to sit in here and wait while their wives are shopping,” Loudenback says. “And, families enjoy coming in to play checkers or sit and read to their children.”
Grays Harbor Thrift Store Goes Above and Beyond for Those in Need
The mission of the church and thrift store, however, goes way beyond the organized shelves and spacious aisles. It’s a thrifter’s paradise, for sure, but what’s even more amazing than discovering your treasures is the way each purchase benefits those in need.
For community members facing challenges such as being homeless, out of work, or simply struggling to make ends meet, Loudenback and her friendly and compassionate staff strive to fulfill those needs. Whether it’s a backpack, durable shoes, clothing for an upcoming job interview, blankets, or a packet of hygiene items, the staff does their best to find that item.
Loudenback and her crew, including employees Kristy Kincaid, Lisa Akers, Kaylie and Jeff David, Bernadette Ness, and Lisa Smith, rely on donations in order to keep the shelves and aisles stocked. They also rely on customers who, when purchasing these items, make it financially possible to serve the local community. And, it goes beyond helping people in need that stop by Anchor Avenue Thrift Store seeking assistance.
“Yes, this is a thrift store, but it’s so much more,” says Galilean Lutheran Church Council President Sabine Price. “It’s far-reaching. The work of the thrift store affects the work the church is able to do as well because it provides all these little venues for other ways to be of service.”
One such outreach is the funding of Garden by the Sea. The community garden provides eight garden beds to the local food bank which, in turn, shares their produce with those in need.
Unusual or unsellable books are boxed up for the Lions Club in Aberdeen, with members selling them by the pound to earn funds for outreach projects. Gift baskets filled with various items are donated to local groups and clubs for fundraising events throughout the year.
Volunteers with Grays Harbor Union Gospel Mission out of Aberdeen pick up truckloads of unsellable donated clothing to distribute to people utilizing their services.
With their laundry voucher program, Loads of Love, those in need are able to use the washers and dryers at Ocean Shores Laundromat. One local gentleman, Victor Lindquist, buys coats every winter from the thrift store to hand out to people that would otherwise go without.
“We started saving coats we don’t sell and we bag them up for Victor,” Loudenback says. “Victor’s son, Rich, runs North Beach Medical Equipment in Ocean Shores, and gives medical equipment to people in need for free. So, any donations we receive such as wheelchairs or walkers, we take to Rich so he can give those away.”
Anchor Avenue Thrift Store in Ocean Shores Boosts Community
By helping people in need and showing kindness towards others, the crew at Anchor Avenue Thrift Store knows they are also helping the community as a whole. Their goal is to approach everyone that walks through their doors with an outpouring of compassion, caring, and kindness.
Loudenback shares one of her favorite quotes from Rochelle E Goodrich: “In someone’s darkest hour, your simple act of kindness may imitate the sunrise and, to sad eyes, you become their only source of light.’”
“All of us at Anchor Avenue Thrift Store hope to be that source of light,” she says. “And, with the help of others who donate and shop with us, we can all be that for our community members in need.”
Volunteers also show their heart by participating alongside staff. “If we didn’t have them to help us, we wouldn’t be able to do all that we do,” Loudenback says. “We need more dedicated volunteers, and I urge people to learn more about how they may help.”
Help Anchor Avenue Thrift Store Pay it Forward
All of these services and more are amazing, but the bottom line is the folks at Anchor Avenue Thrift Store need to sell items in order to help as many people in the community as possible. They depend on people donating items and spending their shopping dollars in the store.
“I want people to know it’s worthwhile to donate here, and realize their donations make a difference to the overall community,” Loudenback says. “Nothing that is donated is discarded. So, people can feel good knowing their donation will go to a good cause and help someone in their local community in one way or another.”
When it comes time to declutter your closets, downsize your living space, or reorganize your garage, Anchor Avenue Thrift Store is the ideal place to bring your gently used items. Donating to this local nonprofit is a win-win situation for everyone in our community. The most requested items are clothing and shoes, especially for men and children, as well as home décor.
Anchor Avenue Thrift Store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday and Thursday. Call 360-289-2164, visit the Anchor Avenue Thrift Store or follow on Facebook.
