After 18 years in the same very busy location at Valley Plaza on Old Mission Drive in Solvang, the Thrift Store of People Helping People will need to relocate in the near future. The Store is being forced to close its doors due to renovations being planned by the owners of Valley plaza.
Dean Palius, PHP CEO, stated that the Owners of the plaza recently met with him to disclose their future plans which would force the relocation of PHP and other businesses. “I was a bit stunned at first after working so many years from the same site,” said Palius. “It will be very difficult to find a store that has the visibility and amenities but it is critical that we keep the store open. After the initial shock wore off, we knew we now had to concentrate on identifying new opportunities.”
According to Palius, the store serves three important purposes. First, PHP invests income derived from sales to help furnish services to those suffering economic hardships. Second, the store’s merchandise is a source of low cost clothing, furniture, and housewares for lower income individuals many of whom are seniors. Third and last, PHP’s Family Service Advocates can write store vouchers for clients experiencing extreme financial hardships who then can receive essential items like children’s clothes and shoes for free.
PHP lists a number of items that they are looking for in a new location. Chief among these items are minimizing relocation and transition costs. Palius indicated that the agency operates on a very thin margin and cannot afford to have the doors of the store closed for very long or pay the high costs of moving inventory. “We will most probably try to recruit volunteers to help with the move and stocking the new location,” said Palius.
PHP’s ideal location would be 3,000 or more square feet with good street visibility, customer parking, and rear access for loading and unloading PHP’s 32 foot long cargo truck. The truck is used to pick-up customer donations and to deliver food to PHP’s biweekly food distributions. “And,” Palius added, “of course, the site would have modest rent.”
If you have location ideas that you would like PHP to consider or wish to volunteer for the “move,” contact Justin Wilkins at (805) 686-0295 or justin@syvphp.org.
In the interim, the store remains open and continues to accept donations. If you would like to visit the store hours of operation at 1980 Old Mission Drive are Monday-Saturday, 9-5 and Sunday, 10-4.
People Helping People is a 501 c-3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of men, women and children in the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos and surrounding areas by addressing emergency and basic needs and furnishing comprehensive integrated family and individual support services. To learn more about PHP, its programs, and ways that you can help, please visit the PHP web site at www.syvphp.org or call 686-0295.
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