WESTFIELD – On Dec. 4, Blessed Buys Thrift Shoppe on 20 Broad St. presented its quarterly donation of $1,200 to the Westfield Public Schools to help students and their families who are in need.
“We have a number of families that either come to the Welcome Center or call us with some kind of need, and these funds will go towards supporting them,” said Christine Shea, director of assessment and accountability for Westfield Public Schools, adding that the money from Blessed Buys will be used to purchase gift cards from grocery stores for families who are food insecure and come to them seeking help.
“It’s amazingly helpful. We couldn’t do it otherwise, because we don’t have a way to purchase gift cards right now. The need is so great, this gives us an additional boost, so we can meet the need when families come in,” Shea said.
The thrift store has given $4,800 to area non-profits and other organizations this past year from proceeds of sales. The store also raises money to support church activities.
Blessed Buys volunteer Cindy Gaylord said they also give away clothes to people in shelters, and have been working with the Red Cross to donate kitchen supplies and clothing to people who lost everything in recent fires.
The week before Christmas will begin their 50% off holiday sale, continuing through the end of December, Gaylord said. Open hours are Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Blessed Buys Thrift Shoppe, which is run entirely by volunteers, originally started three years ago to help the church with the expenses of keeping up with the historic Old Town Hall.
Now that the Old Town Hall is in the process of being sold to DOMUS for housing, the store will close temporarily over the winter to move to its new location next door in the basement of the First Congregational Church.
“We will be having a huge sale on holiday and other items as well, as we try to reduce our inventory before the move,” Gaylord said.
