SEBASTIAN — The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County will celebrate yet another milestone this Saturday – the 10-year anniversary of the organization’s second thrift shop located in Sebastian.
After several decades of successfully supporting the Humane Society with funds raised through the Humane Society’s Vero Beach thrift shop, the doors opened at the Sebastian location in 2004.
Annette Barcus who has been serving as general manager of the thrift shop portion of the organization for 13 years oversees both stores. She said she not only enjoys her job, but finds incredible fulfillment in it.
“Knowing that the work that I’m doing is going toward helping the animals, and also working with all of the amazing volunteers,” Barcus said, is what she enjoys most about coming into work every day.
“About 25 percent of the money raised for the Humane Society comes from the thrift shops,” said Janet Winikoff, director of education at the Humane Society. “It’s really just incredible how the thrift stores are able to help the animals not just in the shelter, but the money raised is also used for vaccination clinics and all kinds of other services.”
Volunteers, Barcus said, are critical to the operation and overall success of both thrift stores. At the Sebastian location alone, approximately 50 volunteers serve on a regular basis. Six to eight volunteers can be found in the store at any given time.
“That’s not nearly enough,” Barcus said.
Barcus said more volunteers are needed for cashiering, sorting donations, and assisting customers on the floor.
“We have a critical shortage of men to help with receiving donations and testing electronics and appliances that come in,” Barcus said.
Even though the Humane Society as a whole relies heavily on hundreds of volunteers to work each year directly with the animals, Winikoff said the thrift store provides a very unique volunteer experience.
“We have a lot of people who volunteer with the thrift shops because it’s a wonderful opportunity for people who love the animals but can’t be hands on with the animals,” Winikoff said.
She went on to say, some volunteers have health issues or allergies that keep them from giving their time in the shelter. Instead, many of those animal-lovers choose to volunteer by sorting donations on the thrift shop floor and are still able to have a direct impact on the pets in the shelter.
In 2004, Barcus said, the Sebastian thrift shop was open for customers three days a week and ran on a handful of volunteers. Ten years later, the Humane Society will celebrate the store now open six days a week and attracting a steady and growing number of shoppers.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, the thrift shop located at 441 Sebastian Blvd., will be thanking its patrons for their support with refreshments, specials, and sales from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information on how to support the Humane Society’s “Open Door, Open Heart” Animal Shelter by volunteering or donating to the thrift shops, contact Annette Barcus at (772) 589-0323.