St. Pete's Nifty Thrifty

Sherryl L. Parks | Kalamath

Photo Art Olson

St. Peter’s Thrift Shop is considered one of the best things about the church because it reaches so many in the community. Many local working people shop at the store during their lunch hour. Grandparents frequently bring their grandchildren to the store, allowing them $5 to find just the right thing. Of course the needy take advantage of what they can find to make their own lives easier.

If you visit the shop you will find a wide variety of items mainly clothing for all ages as well as kitchen items, artwork, books and children’s toys. The shop is not able to store heavy furniture or old computer equipment yet there are always desk lamps, sports equipment and luggage. You, the residents of Del Mar, keep the shop filled to the brim with really nice items for sale. The same folks who donate report that they return to find bargains too.

The Thrift Shop hosts an annual fashion show in late November to help kick off the Christmas sales. This social event is both fun for the models who are wearing thrift shop clothes and also for the 75-100 guests who attend the luncheon and sale.
Where do the funds go that are raised at the Thrift Shop? The Thrift Shop helps support a number of outreach groups in the San Diego area including the local Community Resource Center, Mission Namibia, Episcopal Relief and Development, Esperanza International in Tijuana, BC, Mexico, and, on a daily basis, we serve 5-8 homeless who venture into the shop for a change of clothes.
The Thrift Shop manager, Chris Miller, reports that she dreams of the day when she has adequate space to display the diverse items that come into the shop. Due to these space constraints, Chris and her volunteers need to reduce the price on various items to keep the turn over that weekly customers expect to find when they come to the shop.

St. Peter’s Thrift Shop is located at the corner of Parish Lane and Maiden Lane, right on the church campus. It is easy to use the church parking lot while visiting the shop. The women of St. Peters Church opened the shop in 1967 with the goal of providing a source of income for outreach, providing for the needy, and offering opportunities for service and fellowship to the members of the Parish. Presently 45 members of the parish and community help with sorting, pricing and cashiering. The shop is open to the Del Mar Community Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Be sure you visit St. Peter’s Thrift shop next time you walk downtown to the post office or beach. You will likely find just the right thing for pennies on the dollar.