TAMAQUA, Pa. — Volunteers at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tamaqua say there were people already waiting at the doors to be one of the first inside at its monthly Blessings Thrift Boutique.
"We have so many different items. We have children's Halloween outfits. We have all of the children's clothing we have hunting gear, we have household items," says volunteer Beth Markavich.
The thrifting event also featured jewelry, a boutique, and school uniforms for the back-to-school season. Volunteers say this month's thrift boutique is a little different. Clothing racks and storage from a recently closed-down department store offer a real shopping experience.
"So, if you come in it's all shopping just like if you would go to Boscov's department store and you would look for whatever you need," says Markavich.
Everything at the thrift boutique is donated by the community. That includes gently used clothing as well as brand-new items, and it all benefits the very same community it came from.
"There are not many places that truly give back to the local area, so things that come in here go to support here, and I don't mean here as in specifically the church but here as in the community and community is important," says volunteer Shannon Shobe.
"Especially now with the price of everything is so expensive and people are really in need. They have a need for things, and it's really important to us to be able to offer this to the community," adds Markavich.
One shopper, Pat Conroy, was traveling through town when she saw the Blessings Thrift Boutique sign outside of the church doors.
"I support any church with a sign-out. I do. I buy clothes for needy families, and I have done that for the last forty-some years. They have lovely, lovely things," says Conroy.
Every month the thrift boutique has a "fill a bag special". You can fill a white garbage bag with clothes for $20. Whatever doesn't sell gets donated to the Salvation Army and local shelters.
The next Blessings Thrift Boutique for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tamaqua will be on October 4 from 9 to 5 pm. To donate you can call the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church at 570-668-2180.
To find more information on Blessings Thrift Boutique and monthly events, visit the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Facebook page here.