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07/02/2015 02:03 PMNORTH BRANFORD – Bring your shopping dollars or stop in to donate some gently-used goods – at Stanley T. Williams Community Center, bargains are waiting to be found at "Second Time Around."
The new fundraising thrift store in the STW Senior Center lounge is stocked with special treasures and manned by a treasured staff of senior volunteers, said Judy Barron, Senior Program Supervisor.
The idea to put a thrift shop in the senior center started off "years ago" with the thought of a little counter space managed by senior volunteers selling handcrafted goods, said Barron. The plan: raise some extra money for the Senior Center's self-sustaining account to help fund items, programs and activities the seniors desire. For example, with summer weather encouraging more outdoor time, the group was recently discussing possibly picking out some picnic benches for the center, purchased with proceeds from shop sales, said Barron.
When the town's Senior Center moved from its tiny space at North Branford Hall to its spacious sections at STW in the fall of 2013, "...we wanted to expand off that original idea, and that's how we came up with Second Time Around," said Barron.
It took some planning and preparation but on April 2, 2015, the one-room shop opened and has been operating five days a week ever since. Barron said the hope is to expand the space as word spreads and more donations arrive. To date, much of the inventory has been donated by seniors, from a one-of-a kind vintage suitcase to a sweet selection of gently-used costume jewelry, home décor, housewares, accessories, men's and women's clothing and more.
Volunteer Bobbi Ciardi said some of the inventory came from their own closets and bureaus and many of the vintage pieces belonged to family members of seniors who've donated items.
As volunteer Sharon Lavery said, "...a lot of it is very nostalgic."
The all-volunteer staff of about ten senior center members is overseen by volunteer shop manager Nancy Carafeno, who noted many items at Second Time Around sell for just $1, $2 or $3.
"All of the prices are very reasonable," said Carafeno.
Second Time Around is located in the Senior Center at STW Community Center, 1332 Middletown Ave., Northford. Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The shop accepts tax-deductible donations on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.