Hospice of ET opens resale shop

The Hospice of East Texas has opened its newest thrift store in Jacksonville to benefit its 23-county service area in East Texas, including Cherokee County. The store, located at 1818 S. Jackson St. inside the Atwood’s shopping center, operates from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The thrift store is closed on Sundays.

Donations of gently used items are always welcome, particularly furniture, home décor and clothing, according to Senior Manager Judy Sharp, who also stated “man stuff” sells very well.

Items the store cannot sell include mattresses, bed pillows, large appliances, computers and printers.

“Our mission is the main thing,” Sharp responded when asked why she would encourage folks to donate and shop at the thrift store. “We are non-profit, unlike other thrift stores and 100 percent of what we make goes into those 23 counties. I’ve been with Hospice three years. I saw them firsthand when my step-dad passed away. They were so good to him. They were so good with my mother. Like I said, it’s a behind the scenes help. Some people don’t have time to donate to us, but a bag of blanket, stuffed animals…it helps.”

Three paid employees, including Judy Sharp, senior manager; Lajuana Stanton, store manager; and Crystal Hinton, assistant manager, service the donation area while the retail floor is staffed by volunteers. Although not required to work a full day, any volunteer who is able to put in the hours is welcome to do so. Volunteer shifts are from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. or 1:30-4:30 p.m. during the week, according to Sharp. For those who wish to volunteer, applications can be obtained at the store location or on the website, www.hospiceofesttexas.org.

“I believe in the mission of Hospice of East Texas and I’ve been a volunteer with patients for a long time and I like to help the public and help the organization all I can,” said Jann McGaughey, one of the store volunteers.

The Hospice thrift store in Jacksonville joins the two already existing location in Nacogdoches and Henderson. All proceeds from the stores fund programs of the non-profit organization.

The Hospice of East Texas does provide the end-of-life care that its name may evoke, both in-home and in HomePlace, their Tyler facility which provides round the clock nurses and doctors.

Hospice of East Texas also provides bereavement care to adults and children, grief workshops and seminars as well as other support services.

For information on the various programs The Hospice of East Texas offers, visit www.hospiceofeasttexas.org.

To contact The Hospice of East Texas Thrift Store in Jacksonville, call (903) 589-0232.