Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe is a non-profit organization operated by a special group of dedicated volunteers from the Auxiliary of The Villages Regional Hospital. The Shoppe opened in 2008 in a 100 year old building in Lady Lake, FL that had been the first general store in the community. It is dependent solely on donations from the public and it’s truly a community effort.
The mission of the Thrift Shoppe is to provide funding to be used to enhance services and programs at the hospital and has been able, every year since opening, to purchase a piece of medical equipment, thanks to the generosity of the community.
Karen Harkins, Manager for Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe, says “The Shoppe is an excellent source of high quality, gently used merchandise and extremely affordable prices. It is a destination for many bargain hunters and should become one for everyone.”
Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe accepts brand new and gently used items: clothing, household items, artwork, furniture and home décor. All donations are tax deductible and donors receive a receipt, but more importantly, know that just by donating no longer needed items, you contribute to the success of your hometown not-for-profit hospital. Remember, it’s a “green” choice by recycling your no longer needed items and making them available to others.
Harkins reminds us “our Thrift Shoppe has been a labor of love for all who are involved—from the volunteers staffing it to those who donate items making a difference in helping the hospital to improve the health and wellness for our community.”
Major Expansion for Continued Support
The foundation has been an important partner for The Villages Regional Hospital, having raised more than $1 million, enabling the hospital to purchase leading-edge equipment. A significant source of fundraising for the hospital foundation has been rooted in Ye Old Thrift Shoppe, which began operation in 2008 at 106 W. Lady Lake Blvd. The original home for the thrift shop was a two-story building that had served as the first general store in Lady Lake for nearly 100 years. Ye Old Thrift Shoppe’s main operations consist of selling donated household items, including home decor, books, clothing, shoes, linens, jewelry, furniture and collectibles.
The ranks of its volunteers have grown from 40 to 200 and in 2015, the thrift shoppe expanded from 1,400 square feet to 4,300 square feet. The thrift shop has been good for the hospital, but it has also been a solid producer for the Town of Lady Lake, ringing up an average of $3,000 per month in sales tax.
With this expansion, The Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe hopes to increase its funding to The Villages Regional Hospital Auxiliary Foundation by increasing space for retail displays and a streamlined donation drop-off location.