Community Action announces contest to help rename Main Street Thrift Store

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Community Action’s Main Street Thrift Store is packed with merchandise, from clothing and jewelry to toys, furniture and more.

ALBION – Community Action’s Main Street Thrift Store is launching a new contest to rename the store. Their goal is to have a name that reflects all the store has to offer.

“Community Action has been working hard to update our programs and get the word out about the important services we provide to help people become self-sufficient and achieve financial security,” said Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. “I moved from Buffalo to Orleans County in the early 1990s, and until I joined this agency I was not aware of all the good things we do.”

Earlier this year, Community Action asked a professional public relations person for advice on how to better make the community aware of what they offer, Hungerford said.

“When he walked into our Main Street Thrift Store, he was shocked,” she said. “He said it was not at all what he expected and it didn’t seem like a thrift store. He suggested we run a contest to change the name to something that is fresh and new and helps people to know it is not just a thrift store. No one would know better than our customers.”

The public is encouraged to help Community Action find a new name for its store. The contest runs until the end of the year and entries can be submitted either in person at the front register or on their Facebook page (Albion Main Street Thrift Store.) The winner will not only have the name they suggested on the front of the building, but will also receive a $50 gift certificate to the store.

There is also a social media contest to like and share the post regarding the contest from their Facebook page, where a winner will be randomly drawn to win a $25 gift certificate, said Cassie Eagle, manager of the Main Street Store.

The Main Street Store opened in downtown Albion about 20 years ago, and moved to 131 South Main St. in October 2014 to have more space and house more services for the community, Eagle said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Community Action of Orleans & Genesee opened of the Main Street Thrift Store in October 2014 at the former American Legion at 131 South Main St.

“We continue to add to the services we have here at this location, so changing the name would aid in our continual progression the store,” she said.

Eagle has been working at the store for two years, having started as classroom instructor for the Credit Recovery Program, where she works with high school students on credits they need to recover to graduate. Later, she took on a second role in online sales, where she maintained an online store for eBay sales through the Main Street Store. She took on the role as store manager earlier this year when Michelle George retired. Eagle continues in her previous roles, as well.

The Main Street Store offers a variety of quality clothing and shoes for men, women and children. Many professional women outfit themselves for work at the store. The store also carries jewelry, toys, books, puzzles and games, accessories and electronics. A special holiday section is always full of decorations and items for the current holiday.

In addition to awesome bargains on all that merchandise and the Albion High School Credit Recovery classes, the public can get GED preparation; take part in a Dress for Success program, which provides clothing to look the best in a new job; receive job application assistance; get employment training with Job Development for re-employability; have interview training; and explore volunteer options for community service.

The Main Street Thrift Store, 131 South Main St., is open from 10:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.