SNOHOMISH — The aisles of the Fabulously Frugal Thrift Shop had a steady stream of clients looking for good deals on Friday.
Kim Walker of Snohomish had been at the shop twice before, but this was the first time she came looking for something in particular: a dog gate.
Walker also was holding a vase she planned to buy.
While Walker likes to support a store that sells discounted goods, including appliances, clothes and books, she is more pleased that proceeds help the Snohomish Senior Center.
“The Senior Center, it’s an amazing addition. So anything that supports it, I am in favor of it,” Walker said.
The thrift shop at 611 Second St. is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
It has begun selling beverages with the opening of The Hub Cafe inside the shop last week.
The Fabulously Frugal Thrift Shop opened in June near downtown Snohomish. The main goal is to help pay for programs offered at the center.
So far, revenue has been enough to pay for operating costs and the six part-time employees, said Bob Dvorak, executive director of the Snohomish Senior Center.
Finding new ways to fund the center is important because membership has grown to 650, Dvorak said.
That is stretching the center’s program budget, he said.
The thrift shop has other goals that include providing people with cheaper goods, increasing the visibility of the senior center in the city and providing another way for seniors to volunteer, Dvorak said.
The shop has 12 volunteers who help run and organize products.
Carol Baker, 75, is one of them.
“It’s going to work,” Baker said of the shop. “But it needs time to be established.”
Marcus Munoz, 20, started volunteering last week. The Monroe man’s work usually involves organizing donated items and putting them on shelves.
“It’s been great so far,” Munoz said. “It can be very laid back, but we sell a lot of stuff.”
The store is dependent on donations from the community. So far, Snohomish has not disappointed, store manager Shirley Mock said.
“The community has been more than generous with their donations,” Mock said.
The thrift shop accepts almost everything with the exception of cribs and mattresses, Mock said.
On Friday, Joanne Hiersch and her husband, Arleigh, were bringing sleeping bags and sewing items to donate. Hiersch, who is also a member of the senior center, said she has donated in the past.
“We want to support the center and do anything we can do to fill the gap,” Hiersch said.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
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