PORT HADLOCK — OlyCAP Thrift Shoppe is planning an open house to celebrate the addition of its new furniture annex.
The 800-square-foot store room is being remodeled in the former bakery building across the parking lot from the existing thrift shop at 10632 Rhody Drive.
“There is just not enough room in the current store,” said Bonnie White, Olympic Community Action programs co-director of Community Support Services.
That store is about 1,800 square feet and will continue to sell clothing and other household items.
The open house is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8, with live music by Dick Atkins and the Copycats, food and “some great deals,” White said.
Tours of the OlyCAP Community Pea Patch, between the Thrift Shoppe and the Furniture Annex, also will be conducted.
OlyCAP will use only part of the old bakery building owned by John Gunning, owner of Colinwood Farms in Port Townsend. It may expand later, should demand be great enough.
White said OlyCAP hopes the furniture annex will draw customers in southeast Jefferson County by selling pieces that are affordable.
The annex will feature furniture, bicycles, building materials, sporting goods, tools and other larger-sized items.
“Our Thrift Shoppe has been experiencing unprecedented growth for quite some time,” said Cristine Annice, Thrift Shoppe outreach marketing and volunteer coordinator.
“An expansion is warranted, if not long overdue. We were really limited in the amount of furniture we could show at the shop, given the current floor space.”
Store Manager Karen Jogerst said the new space will enable the thrift store to triple the amount of furniture sold.
OlyCAP has moved a large shipping van from Forks to the Thrift Shoppe to use for picking up furniture donations and deliveries.
Pickup service
The Shoppe has been receiving more furniture donations since word about its pickup service has spread.
“We have always had a policy of picking up items that did not sell after estate sales, seasonal surplus and yard sales, and this contributes a great deal to our furniture stock,” Jogerst said.
Ken Dane, resource developer for OlyCAP, said the nonprofit agency recycles dollars earned at the Thrift Shoppe to support OlyCAP programs.
“Many of our grant supported programs require community matching funds so these dollars really leverage a lot of program support,” Dane said.
“The table you buy today may be contributing to a home-delivered meal tomorrow.”
New bulletin board
The Thrift Shoppe features a new community bulletin board made of recycled windows that displays the OlyCAP Program of The Month on one section.
Information about OlyCAP programs is available inside near the crafting corner.
OlyCap, the North Olympic Peninsula’s largest nonprofit community services agency, integrates programs that assist low-income individuals and families. It benefits more than 60 programs.
OlyCAP administers programs supporting families throughout Jefferson and Clallam counties, serving 9,000 of the 11,000 low-income people on the Peninsula.
Programs include Meals on Wheels, Head Start and Early Childhood Education Assistance, Home Care services, the Encore! Adult Day Care Center in Port Angeles, home weatherization and housing rehabilitation.
OlyCAP also administers emergency services like energy assistance, emergency shelter and transitional housing and the Peninsula Daily News’ Home Fund.
OlyCAP is a partner agency of the United Way of Clallam County and United Good Neighbors of Jefferson County.
To make furniture donations, contact Jorgerst at 360-379-3648 or e-mail kjorgert@olycap.com.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
