Thrift shop reopens

Attic Treasures has reopened its doors.

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Since the store's closing at the end of February, volunteers have been busy moving the store in downtown Harlem into a larger location next door at 193 N. Louisville St.

The store began accepting customers again on Thursday.

"My volunteers are just phenomenal ... They are this place," said store manager Gina Twyman, an AmeriCorps member who oversees the Hands on Harlem fundraising project for Community Connection of Columbia County.

The store opened in 2005 as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. But as volunteer support waned last year, the store came close to closing, Twyman said. That's when Julie Miller, Community Connection's executive director, got involved by incorporating the store as a Hands On Harlem project.

"All the money that comes in goes back out into the community," Miller said.

The store's hours will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

The store supports several area charities including the American Cancer Society, L.O.T.S. Ministry Inc. in downtown Augusta, Hands Up Ministries in Harlem, Saturday Snacks food program and the Children's Resource Center in Appling.

The store accepts and resells such donated items as clothing, purses, shoes, jewelry, toys, books, DVDs, CDs, televisions and household items including small appliances and furniture.

Twyman said she's excited to be moving from the former 800-square-foot location next door to the former home of MaryBeth's Antiques, which is nearly twice the size.

"We have about four times the space for donations," Twyman said, adding that volunteer Jim Bodine built a large table for sorting donations in a back room. "We had an eight-foot table from the Methodist church. That's all we had in back for donations."

Twyman said she can refer those in need to other agencies for services. Other agencies also often refer people to Attic Treasures. A family of six who recently lost their home to fire were allowed to shop for free and take what they needed.

With all the extra space, Twyman said Attic Treasures now has room to display larger items such as furniture and appliances.

"Sometimes, I'd have to sit (large items) out on the sidewalk and pull it in and out everyday and hope it wouldn't rain that day," she said.

Donations that are not needed are taken to other agencies, Twyman said.

"Clothing we can't use ... we actually shred and (AmeriCorps member) Lynn Miller makes pet beds out of that and they take those to the pet shelters for pets that are waiting for a home," Twyman said. "So we try to utilize all resources."

In addition to donations, volunteers are always needed, Twyman said.

Anyone interested in donating time to sort donations, organize inventory and assist shoppers can obtain a volunteer form from the store.

For more information, contact Twyman at (706) 556-2816 or by e-mail at gtwyman@knology.net.