Off Center Thrift & Gift reached a milestone last month — $1.3 million in charitable donations.
The nonprofit thrift shop opened its doors in December 2006 and over the past 18 years has given away all its profits to a large list of local organizations including Relay for Life, Turlock Together, Hilmar/Stevinson Lions Club, Sierra Vista Children’s Center, Society for Handicapped Children, United Samaritans, sober grad night events at various local high schools and Prodigal Sons & Daughters, just to name a few.
The donation that put the charitable thrift store over the top was $5,280 to the Turlock Chaplaincy in January.
“It’s a mission to the community that we’re able to give to these very well-meaning and very good organizations, but it’s a mission to the individuals to be able to volunteer and fellowship together,” said Sylvia Cox, one of Off Center’s founding board members.
Cox said the fellowship the thrift shop workers have fostered over the years was apparent at the recent memorial service for Donna Carkeet, one of Off Center’s original volunteers.
“She developed this whole network of friends…We wouldn’t have all known each other if it hadn’t been for our common interest in Off Center Thrift.”
The thrift store sells gently used clothing, books, furniture and more in order to raise funds for local nonprofits. The curated thrift offerings also serve another purpose, according to Cox — repurposing.
“We’re all very interested in not filling up our landfill, in recycling, repurposing. We don’t buy bags; we don’t buy wrapping paper. Everything is donated. Nobody gets a salary. The only expenses we have are rent and utilities. It’s a great feeling that you take something down there that you don’t want any longer and someone else’s treasure is your junk. There’s nothing that goes to waste. If we can’t use something, we’ll donate that merchandise to the Turlock Gospel Mission,” said Cox.
Cox also noted that they donate household items to the Merced Rescue Mission, where they have transitional housing for individuals and families.
“We’re able to do that, fill their houses with pots and pans and things that are just too much for our store to handle because we’re limited by size,” she said.
Off Center Thrift & Gift is located at 410 E. Olive Ave. in Turlock. The store is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sunday.