By accepting donations, re-homing gently-used items and using the proceeds to fund local charities, the Poolesville Friendly Thrift Shop has empowered a cycle of giving back within the community.
Since 1985, the Thrift Shop has provided Poolesville residents with a place to donate their old clothing and household items, while also offering a sustainable way to purchase new ones. Open Wednesday through Saturday, they receive countless clothes, shoes, accessories, toys, books, kitchenware and decorative pieces, all of which are priced at affordable costs. In an interview, the director of the store, Jackie Adema, shared just how many donations they receive each week.
“I can’t even estimate,” Adema said. “The hallway just gets filled with donations every day that we’re open. And what has happened is that the town realizes that we give everything back to the community, so they give us nicer and nicer donations all the time.”
As a nonprofit entity, 100% of the earnings are dedicated to humanitarian causes, including college scholarships, churches, and charitable organizations like WUMCO Help.
In addition to supporting charities monetarily, the Poolesville Thrift also donates any items in less-than-good condition to secondary organizations. If a piece of clothing is not fit to sell out on the floor, it is sorted to go to one of four places. Many items are given to the Frederick Rescue Mission, which provides clothes to homeless people, while some others go towards the Salvation Army. Extra maternity clothes, baby clothes, and supplies often go towards Truth and Hope or the Gabriel Project.
Senior Avery Savino is one of the Thrift Shop’s only teen volunteers and speaks to this cycle.
“Customers don’t see it, but they waste very, very, very little,” Savino said. “It all gets dispersed through the surrounding community if they can’t sell it.”
The Friendly Thrift Shop is not owned by a single person but is operated by a board of representatives from 11 churches in the area, including Poolesville Presbyterian and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Barnesville. Adema manages a team of 50 volunteers who each work a couple hours a month. Their volunteers remain committed to their mission of promoting humanity and paying it forward.
During the weekdays, there are PHS students who visit during lunch or after school. One of them is junior Brent Korzeniewski, who visits every single week. Aside from the clothes’ prices, he’s said that what makes the Friendly Thrift Shop so special is its positive atmosphere.
“It’s very small, cute, and cozy,” Korzeniewski said. “And the people really elevate [the atmosphere] because they’re all very welcoming and just happy to be there.”
With a chunk of his everyday wardrobe coming from his thrift shop finds, Korzeniewski also shared his pride in knowing that his money supports good causes instead of contributing to the monopoly of fast fashion.
“I’m a high schooler working on a somewhat limited budget,” Korzeniewski said. “Since the only place I really spend a lot of money is the Friendly Thrift Store, it’s nice to know that I’m also contributing through my purchases.”
The Poolesville Friendly Thrift Shop is always looking for new teen volunteers to support the cause. Adema admitted her wish for more to join the crew so that they could open the shop more than four days a week. She encouraged any students passionate about the environment, fashion, or simply giving back to the community to get involved.
For those interested in visiting, the store is located at 17710 Elgin Road in Poolesville, Maryland. They are open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 AM – 4 PM, as well as Wednesdays and Fridays from 2-8 PM.
