Beverly Thrift Store Helps Fund Critical Resource Programs

BEVERLY, MA – This is part of Patch's series on Small Business Saturday. This year, consumers are again asked to “Shop Small” on Saturday, Nov. 26. Have a small business in Beverly? Tell Patch!

Beverly Bootstraps started in the basement of the First Baptist Church on Cabot Street in Beverly in 1992 when the church saw a need in the community to provide food to those who were struggling to make ends meet.

Eventually they began providing donated clothes as well, and it grew so much that they moved to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where they started a thrift shop, according to Shop Manager Lisa Willwerth. This grew to providing more services, so the services offices were moved to 371 Cabot St., and the Thrift Shop to 198 Rantoul St. This lead to buying the building at 198 Rantoul St., and last March services moved into a newly renovated space and the Thrift Shop expanded into the entire first floor of the building.

Beverly Bootstraps' mission is to provide critical resources to families and individuals so they may achieve self-sufficiency. They offer emergency and long-term assistance including access to food, housing stability, adult and youth education, counseling, and advocacy. Beverly Bootstraps is community funded and supported.

Money raised at the Thrift Shop helps to support our programs. The Thrift Shop relies on donors to provide quality items that they sell to raise these funds. They sell all kinds of items, including women's, men's and children's clothing, accessories, jewelry, furniture and household and decor items at bargain prices. Clothing donations must be in season and freshly laundered. All items should be clean and in re-sellable condition. It costs money to dispose of donations that they can't sell, so condition is everything.

On Friday, Nov. 25, the Thrift Shop has its annual Black Friday/Ugly Christmas Sweater sale. They have been saving lots of great Christmas sweaters and holiday decor to sell at incredible prices.

On Saturday, Nov. 26, they will participate in Small Business Saturday and will continue the Black Friday sale.

On Thursday, Dec. 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., they will hosting the annual "Taste & Style" event. They will have clothing, giftware, and decor for holiday shoppers with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

The shop hours are Monday and Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Image via Beverly Bootstraps Thrift Shop