Let's help find a new home for thrift store

The Senior Thrift Store is closed and dark.

It's a shame.

Most people by now know the store closed because the thrift store volunteers couldn't come up with enough money to pay a substantially increased rent on a short deadline.

Enough said about that. The letter writers and bloggers have written more than I ever could or would.

It's time to move on in a positive way.

The community came together in a hurry several weeks ago when the thrift store had to evacuate tons of items.

John Elsa got on the phone and organized a Litehouse truck and a whole bunch of volunteers to move the belongings out and into storage. It didn't take that long to make it happen.

The list of the volunteers who helped move the items is included later in this column.

Now there is a desperate need to find a location for the new thrift store. Many people have fanned out but nothing has come of it.

Every day that goes by means less money is coming in for the many charities the thrift store supports.

Many people also rely on the store for goods they can't afford elsewhere.

Yesterday, I mentioned I would have another positive reason why we all live here. One of the reasons is that we all come together when needed.

If I could ask, please help to find a place for the thrift store to land. Drop me a line at the Bee if you can help.

I'll bet if enough people put their minds to it, the thrift store could be up and running again in no time.

As promised, here is a partial list of people and businesses which donated time or merchandise to help move the thrift store.

Volunteers: Aaron Larkin, Sue Elsa, John Elsa, Katy Akers, Steven Neff, Bill Nack, Bev Wiley-Nack, Bill Platt, Lyn Platt, Richard Madrid, J "Sage" Bocook, Gretchen Hellar, Terrence Reynolds, Scott Stirchfield, Audrey Madden, Bill Platt, Don Becker, Maggie Becker, Chris Franklin, Ella Mae Chronic, Esther Verwolf, Debbie Crosett, Gil Beyer, Ginger Kohal, Mable Doyle and Norma Pierce

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 890 - Del Laughlin, Will Dittman, Michael Harmelin, Don Carr, Howard Bigelow and Doug Darling also helped and Gene Bell and John Bell from the Friends of the Library assisted.

Many local businesses also helped: Lakeview Funeral Home hauled mattresses, Dairy Depot donated pop and water; Yoke's donated paper sacks; Wal Mart donated boxes and Safeway, Merwin's, Dominoes and Wast Management also donated items or people.

Wouldn't it be great if the community came together again to find a home for a group of people who do so much and ask so little?

Speaking of community outpouring … great job Sullivan Homes for organizing the Extreme mini-Home makeover for Kinderhaven.

Kinderhaven was a great place for this business to focus its kind heart on. Nicely done everyone who volunteered.

From the Bonner County Dispatch: Report of a prowler on the 100 block of Second Avenue. "Sandpoint officer responded to a report of a prowler which turned out to be him patrolling the area."

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly.