Since 1919, local volunteers have sorted, priced, shelved, and sold a variety of donated merchandise for the benefit of local charities. The Economy Shop has been in its current location since 1924. From time to time, our hours have changed. Our volunteers come and go, as do our donors and our customers. Even our charities have changed, yet the mission of the shop remains – Let others give so that these local charities may live:

The Economy Shop now consists of 15 departments selling new and gently used donated merchandise. Each of the charities benefited by the shop staffs a department. The other nine departments are staffed by non-agency volunteers. In the early days, volunteers were more abundant. Societal changes have meant that we now never have enough dedicated, hardworking volunteers. Once able to claim “no paid workers,” we currently employ a small staff to help maintain the building and grounds and do the heavy lifting. The shop needs volunteers to sort donations, price and shelve merchandise, and sell it on sale days. In addition, the shop welcomes donated legal, technological, and accounting services, donated equipment, and assistance in testing electronics.

We never know what we will see come through the donation door! The rare, the weird, the profound, and the profane all find their way here – though not always onto our shelves. Only the best of what we are given makes the cut into the shop on sale day. Treasures from Tiffany’s, designer clothes, rare books, or cheap romance novels – we have it all!

So join the fun every first and third Thursday of the month (and certain Saturdays; be sure to check out our schedule) from September through June, for the best buy on a budget – the Economy Shop.