Rescue Squad Thrift Store helps squad and community
The Rescue Squad Thrift Store continues to provide financial assistance to the Morgan County Rescue Service as it has done for more than 30 years. The thrift store also helps the community by offering clothing and household goods at inexpensive prices.
The Rescue Squad Thrift Store is located in Berkeley Springs at 7 Concord Avenue in the bend at the corner of Broadway Street and Concord Avenues near the Berkeley Springs High School football field. The store is located in the old Rescue Squad building one block from U.S. Route 522 South.
Run by the ladies auxiliary
The thrift store is an independent operation run separately by members of the ladies auxiliary, said Morgan County Rescue Service Chief John Corson. The ladies auxiliary supports the Rescue Service through income generated by the thrift store, he said.
Donations from the ladies auxiliary help to buy equipment or new ambulances or help to pay the mortgage when needed, said Corson. The Morgan County Rescue Squad charges for their services, which is their main source of revenue. But they also rely on the ladies auxiliary thrift store for supplemental financial support.
The Rescue Squad Thrift Store dates back to before 1976, said Iris Jean Duckwall, treasurer of the Morgan County Rescue Squad ladies auxiliary. The thrift store is all volunteer-run.
Ladies auxiliary members man the thrift store, sort and fold clothing donations, check household goods and other items for usability and place donations out for sale. Some five or six ladies auxiliary members help run the store. Other members assist with thrift store duties as they can. Helper Jimmy Stinebaugh does the carrying when he's available.
Items that can be found at the Rescue Squad Thrift Store include men's, women's and children's clothing, baby items, shoes, boots, curtains, bed linens, books, floral arrangements, dishes, furniture, records, videos, knickknacks, toys, dolls, paintings, luggage, small appliances and other home furnishings.
If a family is burned out of their home, the thrift store allows them to pick out three outfits for each family member, said Duckwall. If they find a new home within three months, the Rescue Squad Thrift Store will help them with appliances if they have them, she said.
Donations
If you have donations of wearable clothing or small appliances or household items that are in good shape, take them during Rescue Squad Thrift Store hours so staff can determine whether they are usable items.
To arrange for delivery of a large item or a large appliance in good working condition, call Duckwall at 258-8778 to make an appointment to take it to the thrift store.
Make sure that donations to the Rescue Squad Thrift Store are in good to excellent condition, stressed ladies auxiliary members. They can't sell ripped or stained clothing, broken furniture or appliances that don't work.
Like other businesses, the Rescue Squad Thrift Store pays fees for their trash service. Money they spend to have unusable donations hauled away decreases their profits and provides less money to benefit the Morgan County Rescue Service, they noted.
The Rescue Squad Thrift Store is currently open on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and every other Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
