Boca Raton probably is not the first thing to come to mind when you think of thrift shops. However, Susanne Morris, a resident of Boca Pointe and her daughter Sandra find that visiting some of these shops can be a pleasing and rewarding experience. Their favorite shop is the renovated Debbie-Rand Memorial Thrift Shoppe. For the uninitiated, charity thrift shops are wholly dependent on donations and the sale of these items. They give all of their proceeds after expenses to the charity of choice. This is not like a commercial consignment store that pays people for items they bring in only after they are sold. On a recent visit to the thrift shop, Susanne says she “snagged a wonderful designer dress” that she had been hoping to find for about $40. Susanne’s sister says that last month she bought a “great” glass top table for $45. Prices for many items will come as a surprise to those who might expect the higher Goodwill or Salvation Army prices.
With Boca Raton’s large number of people with expansive and expensive wardrobes, furniture and the like, it is obvious why so many thrift shops make their home here. The Debbie-Rand Thrift Shop is a great place to find a variety of goods such as antiques, rugs, bric-a-brac, clothing, jewelry and other goods. Dresses start as low as $5-$15 and name brands can be had for as little as $40-$50, says Renee, a volunteer cashier at the shop. Men’s name brand sport jackets can be had for $20 or less and trousers cost might be under $5. The Boutique is a section of the shop dedicated to almost new high-end merchandise, especially women’s clothing. Designer brand merchandise there can range at prices up to $100. These are merely illustrative of the kind of prices you can expect to pay for clean and often barely used items. Unless you have visited the Shoppe you can’t really imagine what a wonderful community resource we have right here in Boca.
Donations to the Debbie-Rand Thrift Shoppe can be made directly by bringing in items to 903 Meadows Road. The Thrift Shoppe is located just one block west of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital at 903 Meadows Road. The shop is open Monday thru Saturday from 10-4 pm. The shop staff can pick up larger items such as furniture or bulky boxes and larger bags. Families often arrange for pickups when a relative passes or moves to an assisted living facility, or when people downsize. For more information about making donations, or the free pick-up services call 561-395-2208.
For the past two years sales at the thrift shop have exceeded $500,000. That money was given by the thrift shop to the hospital to purchase needed medical equipment. Brooke Mateland has been the dedicated thrift shop manager for many years. She overseas about 50 volunteers. Ms. Mateland told me that since its founding, the hospital has received almost $9 million from sales at the thrift shop.
Dr. Aimee Yahn-Carmichael, Regional Director – North Region – Retail and Volunteer Operations, said that since its opening in 1962, the Shoppe has proven to be the primary money-making vehicle for the volunteer organization. Over the years the Thrift Shoppe has moved into larger facilities and has grown in popularity. Donations from community members have included designer clothing, furniture from estates, a complete inventory of a lady’s dress shop, boats, cars, jewelry, art, and even cemetery plots. All profits are donated to the Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
The Debbie-Rand Thrift Shoppe is located just one block west of the hospital on Meadows Road. It is in a modern facility paid for largely with very generous gifts from community members including Countess de Hoernle, the late Belle Deitch and other residents. Ruth McGoldrick was the guiding light of the Shoppe devoting 37 years to working there as a volunteer and manager before retiring in 2012. She had accumulated a phenomenal 36,000 hours of volunteer service amounting to about 20 hours a week for 36 years. Volunteers are the backbone of the shop’s operation. These volunteers often work there because of a positive experience they or a relative have experienced at the hospital. Volunteers are an integral part of helping patients, staff and families. Mary, a long-time volunteer, told me that she became involved with volunteering when her mother was sick 22 years ago. She saw how caring the volunteers were with her mother and “wanted to give something back.” Another woman told about starting to volunteer while her husband was stationed overseas in Afghanistan. She said that the military wives were encouraged to volunteer at any of the community institutions that need help. She chose the BRRH thrift shop and has worked there for 8 years. She said that it was important to help wherever you are needed. She finds working at the hospital very enjoyable. She finds a sense of family at the shop and “the work makes me feel like I am making a difference in our community.”
Many Boca Pointe residents work 4 or more hours each week at the Shoppe. They find working there is a way of making new friends while helping to improve the hospital’s services to the community. Some enjoy utilizing their pre-retirement experiences in the field of retailing and the contacts with Shoppe customers. The success of the Thrift Shoppe during its 62 years of its operations has been largely due to the dedication of its volunteers. Currently, 50 volunteers work there each week continuing a great tradition of help to our community.
Today, the D-RMSL volunteers remain a vital part of the hospital community with a mission to continue the vital work begun by Gloria Drummond. The thrift shop volunteers are part of the 350 D-RMSL people who serve as friendly ambassadors to patients, hospital employees and visitors. They continually lend a helping hand, uplift patients’ spirit and offer support throughout the hospital facility. While there are many volunteers working in the shop, there is always need for more people to help. For more information about volunteer opportunities at the Thrift Shoppe or at the Hospital, call 561-955-4098.
