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 Photo by Lisa Allen
Senior center thrift store manager Fran Carlson cradles a stuffed bunny in the "kids room," which is full of toys, books, games and puzzles, most of it donated by Margaret Gamache who ran the former Tolt Hill preschool.
Sno-Valley Senior Center thrift store set to open
CARNATION–Even before the current economic crisis hit, Fran Carlson and others at the Sno-Valley Senior Center could see the handwriting on the wall.
"Years ago, when I was on the board (of the center) I could see that we were going to need to come up with a continuing revenue source that we could count on," explained Carlson, the project manager for the center’s soon-to-open thrift store. "Whatever it was going to be would need to be community-supported and generate funds on an ongoing basis."
Over the years, she said, the center has held numerous fund-raising events, but the income from those just wasn’t consistent. The answer eventually came in the form of a near-century-old house owned by the center that had been a long-time rental. On the same block as the center, it would make a perfect place for a thrift store. The building, though, clearly in the autumn of its years, needed a thorough restoration .
But just as Carlson had predicted, the community stepped up. Volunteers cleaned, painted and completed needed repairs. And when it began to look like the store was actually going to happen, the board asked its members to submit names and as it turned out, that was probably the easiest part of the entire project.
At least it was for Bob Richter.
Photo by Lisa Allen
Volunteer Barb Haugan (l), and store manager Fran Carlson decide on a price for a jacket.
Bob’s wife Carol, a center member, says it went like this: "Bob and I were at home, sitting in our recliners when I asked Bob if he had any ideas on a name for the store."
He replied a second later: "Re-In-Carnation."
"It was just that fast," said Carol. "I was amazed."
Carlson said 40 names for the store had been submitted. The board narrowed it down to three and the membership voted for Bob’s name, awarding him a gift certificate to the store.
The building, located at 31845 W. Commercial St., continues to be a hub of activity in preparation for opening day, which is planned for Oct. 15. Last week, work continued on the structure as center and community members sorted and priced donations.
The center will be staffed totally by volunteers, said Carlson, who emphasized that numerous groups and individuals were responsible for getting the project off the ground.
"Tolt Congregational Church members, organized by Bob Patterson and Erich Studer, cleared the bushes away, revealing ‘Sleeping Beauty,’" she grinned. "Duvall Rotary members and Microsoft employees primed and painted the interior, Rotary members moved the donations inside, sorted and priced them and Northwestern University students worked all one Saturday in the yard and scrubbed and cleaned the building."
The Rotary Club of Duvall stepped up again when costs of lumber and other supplies began to add up.
Amara Oden, director of the senior center and its Adult Day Program, said the club gave the center a challenge gift of $5,000 and is offering to match any donations up to that $5,000 to help defray some of the costs incurred to get the building repaired and ready to open. "It’s always more fun to give when what you give is doubled," she said. "A logo was also created pro-bono for us by Pia Larson of Fingerprint Marketing."
Carlson said everyone at the center is grateful for all the community support.
"It shows what can be accomplished," she said. "This was very definitely a community effort. This is a vision I had when I went on the board years ago. Having a thrift store here will be good for the community and will help fund the center to keep it running. It’s my labor of love."
As Carlson surveyed the remodeled structure, already full of items to be sold, she pondered its history.
"This house has sheltered a lot of families over the years," she remarked. "It has a lot of original features, including leaded windows, a beveled glass front door and original millwork that we protected when we painted. It’s neat we are saving it instead of tearing it down."
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