The popular Thrift Store, owned and operated by the Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ), is moving to a new location that will more than double its merchandising space.
“Because of the move, we’ll fulfill even more our goal of providing clothing, shoes and household items to those who can’t always afford to purchase them new,” said Saul Fein, CCJ board president.
Located at 1034 Fair St. (across the street north from the Yavapai County Administration Building), the Thrift Store will occupy more than 5,500 square feet in a remodeled commercial building. That is double the floor space of its current location at 442 W. Goodwin.
The end of October is target date for opening the relocated CCJ Thrift Store.
Paul Mitchell, CCJ executive director, said moving the CCJ Thrift Store to its new site is the result of months of “…intense negotiations and careful review of our needs to conduct existing CCJ programs and to expand in the future.”
Mitchell says the store is located on approximately three-fourths of an acre. The property also includes two small residences and substantial parking.
Speaking for the CCJ board, Mitchell said initially, a generous anonymous donor gave more than $125,000. That amount, coupled with contributions from local foundations, organizations and individuals, made it possible to buy the property.
It is the first purchase of commercial real property by the CCJ.
“We’re blessed in the Quad Cities community to have committed donors who want to help us diminish the cycle of poverty,” Mitchell said. “Carl Brown, our chair for the CCJ Facilities Committee, has been quite successful in finding additional financial support for this effort.”
Brown is a past president of CCJ.
Mitchell praised the team of volunteers who currently are renovating the building into a retail shopping space filled with shelves and racks, and adequate floor space for large pieces of furniture and appliances. “We really appreciate the recent donation of racking from the C-A-L Ranch store,” Mitchell said.
Jim Storelli, a CCJ founder and current member of the CCJ board of directors, said the expanded store will be able to go far beyond providing clothing and other items for families. “We see the store as becoming not just self-supporting but also a source of funds for other CCJ programs.” Storelli is chair of the CCJ Resource Development committee.
Mitchell thanked several community professionals who contributed expertise to make the purchase and the move possible.
Among those were JT Purvis of Commercial Properties of Northern Arizona, who negotiated the property purchase; Jeffrey Zucker, LEED AIA, of Zucker Architecture for creating working plans to remodel and realign walls and to help meet city review processes; and Gary Kelly of Kelly/Wise Engineering for surveying and engineering services for the parking lot.
CCJ Provides Services and Programs Throughout Western Yavapai County
The CCJ Thrift Store is but one of several programs sponsored by the non-profit organization. “Since our beginning 15 years ago, we’ve emphasized that CCJ should provide hope and opportunity for those trying to break out of the cycle of poverty,” said current CCJ president Saul Fein.
Fein praised both Mitchell and Brown for their “…extraordinary efforts in raising funds to buy the property and relocate the thrift store. Their efforts were exceptional. Because of them, we are confident the expanded thrift shop will serve many more who have basic needs,” he said. “We’re also able to provide job training for employees.”
Fein mentioned that relocating the thrift store is only one phase of the CCJ vision for building the future.
“It’s our hope that we can purchase buildings and property to let us expand all our programs—Open Door, Fair Start, Warm for Winter, A Family Christmas, Weekend Family Food, Home Repair and the others,” he said.
Mitchell echoed Fein.
“The relocation of the thrift store is the first of several phases. As we celebrate our 15th anniversary of CCJ, we’re embarking on a next phase which will let us move from our longtime home at the Prescott United Methodist Church,” Mitchell said. “We’re hoping in the next 18 to 24 months to meet our vision for long-term facilities future. Of course, that means a major capital campaign. We hope to raise $550,000 by March 2017.”
CCJ Planning 15th Anniversary Celebration
Mitchell said a major step in that direction will be the “Crystal Celebration,” an event planned from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25, at the Prescott United Methodist Church (PUMC).
“We’re taking this opportunity to celebrate 15 years of successful service in Yavapai County. It’s an opportunity for us to publicly thank PUMC for its exceptional support all these years. We also want to acknowledge the original founders and organizations they represented,” said Regina Younger, who helped plan the event.
Among those to be honored are these persons and their organizations:
- Doug and Diane Iverson, Open Door and PUMC
- Fritzi Mevis, People Who Care
- Gladdy Miller and Dan Crowe, Sacred Heart Catholic Church
- Bill Black, Nazarene Church
- Gwen Janes and Mike Thowsen, Granite Peak Unitarian Universal Church
- Juanita Setzer, Common Ground/Habitat for Humanity
- Delores Glattfelder, Prescott Community Church
- Bob Fiske, PUMC
- Marv Bamberg, Trinity Presbyterian Church
- Kathy Pessin, Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church
- Roger Roberson, Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Buz Davies, a former Prescott resident, will return to emcee the program. Davies is a past CCJ president.
Younger says those attending would be asked to contribute $25 per person, with all donations going to support CCJ’s various programs.
She also notes that a live auction will be conducted by Brad Newman, director for Yavapai Exceptional Industries. Items to be auctioned range from catered dinners to patio furniture and from author-autographed books to table-top games.
She says costs for the celebration have been underwritten by anonymous donors.
Persons interested in further information or for reservations should contact www.YavapaiCCJ.org. QCBN
Story and photo by Ray Newton