Published: September 06, 2008 11:40 pm      

Crisis Center store offers service through sales

PALESTINE — For decades, the Palestine branch of The Crisis Center of Anderson and Cherokee Counties has been helping the people of its community, and continues to do so in so many ways.

One program that the Crisis Center staff is hoping the community will take full advantage of is the “Second Glance Resale Store.”

The store, which is open for shopping by the community Tuesday through Saturday, provides clothing and home items to the public at bargain basement prices. The money raised goes to help victims of family violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

During the recent heatwave, Second Glance manager Marilyn Andrews reported that summer clothes were flying out the doors.

“We put all summer clothes on at 50 percent off, and customers have been piling them high in their carts” she said. “But, we still have summer clothes left to sell.”

Second Glance accepts donations of good used clothing and merchandise from the public during store hours.

“We’ve had to limit our donation hours to store hours recently,” Andrews said. “Some donations were being left during our closed hours, and getting rained on, or, frankly, stolen from our parking lot.

“So, we ask that people bring their donations by when we can accept them thank them, and give them a receipt for their taxes.”

All donations are tax deductible.

According to Andrews, Second Glance merchandise ranges from books to appliances and lot of clothing.

“What the public brings in is what we put out” she said. “We get really nice things that we are able to provide to another owner.”

Some merchandise is held for use by clients of the Crisis Center.

“If someone has been forced to leave their home in order to escape abuse, sometimes they don’t have time to grab any clothing. They have to just run, just escape,” Andrews explained. “In these cases, we provide them with clothing for themselves and any children they may have with them.

“When they are ready to move out on their own, we help by providing them with furniture for their apartment from what we have in the store,” she added. “It’s just one way that we try to take down as many of the hurdles as we can that stand between the victims and a life of freedom from abuse.”

Second Glance is located at 313 W. Debard across from the Palestine Police Department. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com