Woodland thrift store to remain open, benefit Wayfarer Center

The Woodland thrift store operated by Yolo Hospice was scheduled to close this summer, but will now remain open under new ownership, the agency announced.

Yolo Hospice had considered the closure temporary and promised it would be exploring all options for the store. The Yolo Wayfarer Center, a Woodland nonprofit that helps the homeless, has signed a contract with Yolo Hospice to take over ownership of the store beginning Saturday, Aug. 20.

The thrift store, 607 Main St., will be renamed Wayfarer’s Bargains 2 Benefit the homeless, or B2B.

“We were never pleased about the necessity of closing the thrift store and continued to look for alternatives,” said Doug Jena, executive director of Yolo Hospice, in a news release. “We are happy to have found this opportunity, which will benefit Yolo Hospice, Woodland, the long-term patrons of the thrift store and the Wayfarer Center. This is definitely a win-win for all of us.”

The Woodland thrift store will continue with business as usual, accepting donations of gently used items for resale, and rags and worn shoes for recycling. The new owners of the store are planning a grand reopening and will announce that event, as well as news and updates about the thrift store in the near future.

“We sincerely thank the thrift store patrons, donors and volunteers who supported the store while it was run by Yolo Hospice,” Jena said. “We are confident we are leaving the store patrons in good hands and hope they will continue to support the thrift store with their shopping and donation of goods. We are hopeful for their continued support of Yolo Hospice, as well.”

The Yolo Wayfarer Center’s mission is to empower men, women and families to make necessary life-style changes that enable them to exchange homelessness for a full and productive life. The center has a “hand up — not hand out” philosophy.

“We are so excited,” said Leona Jull, executive director of the Yolo Wayfarer Center, said in the release. “We plan to operate the thrift store as a job training program for homeless individuals who are in need of skills training in order to become employable.

“We are especially proud that as a part of this community we can sustain a well-loved business on Main Street, support a fellow nonprofit and benefit people in need.”

Yolo Hospice, serving the area for more than 30 years, emphasizes comfort through pain control and sophisticated symptom relief.

Yolo Hospice will continue to seek the community’s help through volunteerism and fundraising. For more information about Yolo Hospice or end-of-life transition and planning, visit www.yolohospice.org or call (530) 758-5566.

Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=70226

Posted by Special to The Enterprise on Aug 8 2011.
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