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12/22/2015 11:00 PMThanks to the SARAH Family of Agencies, Richard Payne has enjoyed living as independently as possible for more than 30 years of his adult life. And, for more than 30 years, Richard’s mom, Georgia Payne, has given back as a faithful SARAH supporter, volunteer, and part-time employee at SARAH’s Cupboard Thrift Shop in Branford.
This week, following more than three decades of service with SARAH’s Cupboard, Georgia carefully selected, thoughtfully priced, and expertly stocked the boutique with the final few pieces of clothing among thousands that have passed through her hands. Clothing inventory comprises the shop’s single largest sales category. Managed by SARAH Foundation Inc., SARAH’s Cupboard donations and purchases support non-profit SARAH programs.
“Richie is the reason I started here,” says Georgia of her youngest son. “He’s 55 now. Over 30 years ago, when he left the special education class at Branford High School, the next step was to find a place for him to go, and SARAH was there to help.”
A Branford native, Georgia’s maiden name is Blackstone and her family ancestry stretches back to include James Blackstone, namesake of Branford’s James Blackstone Memorial Library (given by his son, Timothy B. Blackstone, in 1896).
While raising their three sons in Branford, Georgia and her late husband, George Payne, became familiar with SARAH and joined its membership when Richard was growing up.
“When Richie was living at home with us, we took advantage of whatever programs there were for him. There was really nothing else like it on the shoreline,” says Georgia.
Founded in 1957 by three Guilford families (Dan and Eleanor Reinhardsen, Reeves and Dorothy Spencer, and William and Regina McNeil), SARAH got its start in a Guilford church basement as a school for children with intellectual disabilities at a time when school districts were not required to include them. By the time federal law mandating public education for children with disabilities was passed in 1975, SARAH and its programs were blossoming. Through the years, SARAH grew to include the nation’s first food service training program for people with disabilities and branched out to offer other training and job opportunities, placing employees at businesses throughout south central Connecticut. SARAH opened its first community residence in Branford in 1977. By 1990, SARAH SENECA and SARAH Tuxis residential services were added to support expanded residential care offerings.
SARAH’s job training, employment connections, and residential services helped Georgia’s son successfully transition to an independent adulthood. Following recent surgery to fuse an ankle, Richard now benefits from day programming at SARAH In Action’s Madison location.
“He’s been in quite a few jobs through SARAH, and now that he’s no longer able to work, they have a place for him at SARAH In Action,” says Georgia. “SARAH is wonderful. They have been just wonderful as a support system.”
As SARAH’s Cupboard clothing sales manager, regular customers may know Georgia, but most might not catch her on the sales floor. That’s because Georgia’s generally hard at work in the back room, marshaling the shop’s steady flow of clothing donations. Georgia will be missed, says SARAH’s Cupboard Store Manager Joe Vidal, who joined the shop 10 years ago.
“She’s been a pleasure to work with for the past 10 years,” says Joe. “The employees, the volunteers, even the young kids that help out for community service—anybody that’s come into contact with Georgia has enjoyed working with her.”
In 2012, the SARAH Family of Agencies recognized Georgia among several individuals awarded for their instrumental support of SARAH programs and services. As the SARAH Foundation’s 2012 report noted, “Georgia has been a valued employee at SARAH’s Cupboard for many years. She has the most positive outlook on life and always has a smile on her face. You can always hear her cheerful lilting voice from the back room of the store. She is a fixture at the SARAH Annual Meetings and a faithful donor. There are so many reasons to honor Georgia—as a volunteer, an employee, a donor and a friend. If you mention her name, someone always comments, ‘Georgia Payne, is she still around?’ Yes, she is, and going strong!”
Georgia got her start at SARAH’s Cupboard when the shop was really not much more than, well...a cupboard. Today, SARAH’s Cupboard offers several rooms of merchandise of many types and has grown to include a second shop next door, SARAH’s Sideboard Furniture Shop, but Georgia can recall when SARAH’s Cupboard occupied a much smaller space a few doors away at the corner of Meadow and Church streets.
“I started out as a volunteer because Diana Morris called me one day,” says Georgia of Morris, a 2010 SARAH Lifetime Achievement Award winner. “She asked me if I could come and help out, because they were starting a thrift store. We used to just fold up the donated clothes that came in and put them on the counters, and that was pretty much it. Then, it gradually started to pick up! I went from coming in on Mondays to coming in just about every day to keep ahead of things.”
About 20 years ago, Georgia was offered one of the shop’s two hired positions.
“Joe and I are the only employees here; everyone else is a volunteer,” says Georgia. “We could always use more volunteers!”
Most of Georgia’s hours at the shop have been spent taking in, sorting, and selecting the shop’s donated and consigned clothes, shoes, and accessories for children, teens, women, and men. She’s seen it all, from wedding gowns to prom dresses and never-worn garments to notable designers, and has standards about what makes it to the racks. Georgia also carefully prices to ensure shoppers are getting a bargain, while SARAH gets the best benefit possible from every purchase.
“I hope people feel they’re getting a great value,” Georgia says. “It’s so important because it supports SARAH. I do know people who come here to shop just because of who we’re supporting, or people who have come back again because they found out that’s what we do.”
On Dec. 22, many of Georgia’s fans and friends took up the shop’s invitation to stop by on “Farewell Day to Georgia Payne.” Georgia says she’ll miss being a part of the SARAH’s Cupboard family, but promises to return to visit—and to shop to support SARAH.
Visit SARAH’s Cupboard Thrift Shop and SARAH’s Sideboard Furniture Shop at 155 Meadow Street, Branford, Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.sarahfoundation.org or call Store Manager Joe Vidal at 203-481-4052.