Two new thrift shops benefit local healthcare groups

Last Updated on Thursday, October 25, 2012 02:33 pm Written by Mary Linehan Thursday, October 25, 2012 08:00 pm

 NORTH CAPE MAY – Two thrift shops benefiting local healthcare organizations have opened in the area within the past month.

Cape Regional Medical Center Auxiliary has added a second “EtCetera” thrift shop at the Bayshore Mall in North Cape May. Volunteers in Medicine has also opened a thrift shop in West Cape May, called “VIMspirations.”

“We’ve done so well and grown so much at our site in Cape May Court House,” said Annette Scully, manager of the hospital’s two EtCetera Shops. “We were on the lookout for another location. Lower Township has been very welcoming so far.”

According to Scully, the store has received generous donations from the local communities, meaning that the shop is stocked with values on lightly-used clothing, linens, curtains, dishware and children’s toys.

“We’ve received very nice quality donations and, of course, everything that we put out has been washed and dried,” said Scully. “We keep the prices reasonable and this offers a great shopping alternative.”

The North Cape May shop opened in late September and hosted a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 8.

“The addition of the second EtCetera Shop is the result of increased demand for thrift shop terms in the North Cape May section of the county and to serve patrons from the local area,” said Anne Burrows, the Auxiliary’s president. “After conducting research for a suitable location, we decided the Bayshore Mall would be a great location, offering convenient accessibility for our customers. Repeatedly, our customers asked if we would ever consider opening a second shop in Lower Township.”

The shop is North Cape May is staffed by a rotation of 15 volunteers.

“All the money we make goes to the Auxiliary fund,” said Scully, who noted that the Auxiliary has helped pay for updates to the early child education facility, the maternity ward, the emergency room and the helicopter pad at the hospital. “Everything we make stays in the community, because it supports the hospital. And, besides being fun, shops like ours offer great outreach to the community.”

The Cape May Court House shop has been in operation for decades.

“Auxiliary and volunteers have operated the Court House shop for more than 45 years, and we hope to start a long tradition of service in North Cape May,” said Burrows.

The North Cape May EtCetera Shop is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and continues to accept donations. The store’s phone number is 846-7643.

Volunteers in Medicine of Cape May County (VIM) authorized the opening and operation of its thrift shop, VIMspirations, in West Cape May in early October.

“The store is beautiful and the merchandise wonderful,” said VIM Board of Trustees chairwoman Sandy Gott. “Shelves were being emptied as I stood there. VIM volunteers were on the spot helping people and making the shopping experience very nice.”

Volunteers in Medicine is a free health care facility for county residents without access to medical insurance and who meet financial eligibility. VIM’s focus is on primary health care, emphasizing disease prevention, health promotion and patient education in an easily accessible facility with the same dignity and confidentiality afforded in the private sector.

Now in its tenth year, VIM has treated more than 4,000 patients with 24,000 cumulative visits – at no charge. According to the group, some 600 county residents consider VIM their primary care doctor.

VIMspirations, which celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 6, is located at 600 Park Boulevard, Unit 2 in West Cape May. The store’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. The store is accepting donations, and continues to look for volunteers to help run the store.

According to a VIM press release, 100 percent of the store’s profits are dedicated to the clinic, which is located in Cape May Court House.

The store’s phone number is 884-5494. The VIM clinic can be reached at 463-2846. The Volunteers in Medicine website is www.vimcmc.org.