PORT ANGELES — Serenity House of Clallam County is opening a new thrift shop Sept. 3.
The store will occupy the historical First Congregational Church building at 502 E. First St.
The thrift store project developed rapidly after Serenity House officials were approached earlier this August by a group of about 30 community volunteers.
“The volunteers have been working hard every day to make the store happen,” said Kathy Wahto, Serenity House of Clallam County executive director. “They said they wanted to do it, and they have really made it happen.”
This will be the second thrift store in the county for Serenity House — the agency previously opened Serenity Shop in Sequim in 1998.
The Sequim store has generated more than $750,000 since opening, Wahto said. The money went to programs for the homeless and store operations.
“Port Angeles won’t be a carbon copy of the Sequim shop, but the stores will work together in many ways, especially in helping customers find what they are looking for,” Wahto said. “The Port Angeles location is so unique because of the historic building.”
The church building, built in 1889 at First and Vine streets, is on the state Register of Historical Places.
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