Thrift store is a Christmas alternative
Staff writer
Ruth Tajchken from Lincolnville was one of many Marion County residents who visited St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary Shoppe to look for Christmas gifts Friday morning.
“I love the little knickknacks,” she said. “I am here quite a lot.”
Tajchken, 84, has lived in Marion County her entire life. She credits the thrift store with allowing her to do some Christmas shopping closer to home.
Marion resident Jenny Cantu loves prices at the store, saying she and a relative, Sonia Cantu, have always shopped at thrift stores.
Sonia, who was visiting from Mission, Texas, came to see her grandchildren.
“I love the thrift store that is here,” she said.
Marion resident Tristen Miesse and her 10-year-granddaughter Laurie, looked over new merchandise that still had their original price tags.
“We do all of our shopping in Marion throughout the year,” she said. “This is a bougie thrift shop.”
Miesse was thrilled that she could buy clothes and other merchandise at a fraction of what they would cost at a department store.
Manager Mary Ann Conyers, showed clothes for $6 that would normally cost $50 to $60.
The auxiliary thrift shop was pretty busy Friday, she said, but with Christmas just a few days away, that was expected.
“We really have all kinds of folks, and the energy was tied to it,” she said. “We have people coming from everywhere.”
Volunteer Jandee Moore said Friday was a steady run of customers.
The thrift shop is open from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Everyone who works at the thrift store is a volunteer and unpaid.