Volunteer Spotlight: The ReRun Runs on Volunteer Power

It takes a small army to keep our ReRun Shoppe operating smoothly. How fortunate we are to have great leaders who make sure it stays open at the appointed hours, week in and week out, and others who devote extra hours selling, preparing, moving, and storing donated items. The resale shop, operated by the Bridgewater Home Auxiliary, is run entirely by volunteers.

In leadership roles now are intake coordinators Doris Harsh and Sharon Kiracofe. They accept, sort, and price donated items and arrange sales. Bonnie Glick, the third member of the leadership team, works in the main room arranging and displaying items. Ruthie Evans is a great helper sorting jewelry, and Lee Jackson also fills in as needed.

“We have really good volunteers now who are taking ownership,” Doris explains. “They ask questions like ‘Would this work?’ and ‘How can we best display that?’”

Of course, there is constant change in what’s for sale, with new items coming in and others being sold.

“Inventory in the shop has certainly increased over the past three years,” she adds.

That results in a wonderful variety of value-priced items for shoppers to discover. There is one room for books and household items, a small room for seasonal items, and the main room for clothes and accessories, electronics, books on tape and DVDs, jewelry and a myriad of other items.

The focus of the shop has always been making the shop accessible and user-friendly for residents. Shopping at ReRun is an activity many residents and team members have come to enjoy, so items are priced very reasonably.

“It’s exciting to have residents who come for the first time and are surprised when they find things they like and can afford,” Doris says.

Doris makes it clear that all donations are appreciated and are always used in some way: “We waste nothing. If things don’t sell, we have many outlets for sending them to other places. We have often shared items with other charities like Mercy House, The Village Barn [operated by the Bridgewater Village Residents Association], and Gift and Thrift among others. The ReRun Shop is a favorite place for so many people, and we are very glad our volunteers are willing to share their service.”