The Woodlawn Thrift Store, located at 2108 Mississippi 13 N. in Columbia, is home to a variety of items all in the name of helping others.
Manager Brent Pendleton described all the different efforts The Thrift Store income is used to fund.
“What we do here is we take in donations seven days a week, and we also sell the merchandise that we get. It helps fund the Rediscovery Center, which does an alcohol and chemical treatment. It’s a free service for our community and we accept walk-ins so you don’t have to be court ordered to come,” he said. “We also do parenting classes, as well as anger management. We just recently started a GED program to help people get their GED. That’s why The Thrift Store is The Thrift Store. It’s a separate ministry, but it also ministers to the community.”
The Thrift Store sells anything members of the community are willing to donate.
“We sell furniture, clothes, household items, electronics and even flooring,” Pendleton said. “We just got some good flooring in here from Quality Flooring. Anything that people are willing to donate, especially this time of year when people are cleaning out their closets and garages. We have a lot of interesting stuff for men, women and children.”
Pendleton added that The Thrift Store is also fully stocked with items for the holiday season, as well as a new boutique.
“We do have a Christmas room that is set up and already ready to go. We have fall items in for Thanksgiving,” he said. “We now have a specialized boutique as well where we get some of the nicer stuff in, and it has some really nice clothes and men’s suits.”
Pendleton is joined by Joyce Doerner and Chasity McNeff in running The Thrift Store, which also donates items to those in need.
“We have school uniforms for 50 cents apiece, and we took two totes to West Marion for the kids who don’t have uniforms,” Doerner said. “Some of the kids wear the same uniform every day, so it’s great to donate to them. I was real proud to be able to do that.”
Employees are also able to make their own call when customers come into the store in need of help.
“When people come in that we see needs help and they can’t afford the items that are here, we do have the ability to use our judgement ourselves to give them what they need,” McNeff said.
It is an operation that is extremely rewarding for its employees, according to Pendleton.
“Just the response that we get is special. People are able to shop here that are on a fixed income that can’t necessarily go to a store that sells new items and purchase clothes for them and their kids,” he said. “We also have donated a lot of clothing to the community, foster parents and foster children. It’s a blessing.”
McNeff said that meeting and helping people through the store is a big incentive.
“I like it because it’s a ministry and we’re able to minister to the people, talk to them about the Lord and possibly give them the opportunity to change their life,” she said. “I like having the opportunity to help them be better and be a friend.”
Doerner added that The Thrift Store has helped its employees build some lasting relationships in the community.
“We’ve met some super friends that are lifetime friends that we wouldn’t have otherwise have met.”
Having Pendleton take over the operation of The Thrift Store was a big lift, according to McNeff.
“We’re blessed to be able to work with (Doerner) and (Pendleton) for sure. We’re thankful that he decided to come and take this over because we needed somebody that has the ability and the strength to want to succeed and help other people to make it work,” she explained. “These people thrive and hope to see his face when they come here. Even if they’re just coming to shop, they’re always asking about (Pendleton) and where he’s at because he’s always there to help — always.”
It’s personal for Pendleton to be able to help those struggling with addiction, which was key in him deciding to run The Thrift Store.
“My past experiences,” he said of what led him to The Thrift Store. “I was raised in Columbia and you could say I was raised on the wrong side of the tracks. I wound up getting involved in drugs and alcohol, so my heart was to come back to Columbia and help our community and help people with addictions.”
The Woodlawn Thrift Store is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. It can be reached by phone at (601) 424-3577 and on Facebook.
Pictured Above: From left. Chasity McNeff, Brent Pendleton and Joyce Doerner make up the Trift Store team. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
