MAAC Thrift Shop plans to reopen on limited basis June 22
Photos by Tom Rivers: The MAAC Thrift Shop has been closed since March 16 and hasn’t been accepting donations.
MAAC will shift to ‘touchless donation’ system
The Thrift Shop later this month expects to reopen with restrictions.
MEDINA – Cleaning out closets and cupboards is something everyone puts on the back burner, waiting for a rainy day.
And now volunteers at MAAC’s Thrift Shop in Medina fear they are going to be bombarded with donations which people just can’t wait to get rid of.
The Thrift Store is scheduled to open on a limited basis and with restrictions on June 22.
Sue Metzo, a member of MAAC’s board and a volunteer at the Thrift Shop, said they met Thursday afternoon to discuss plans for reopening the store, which has been closed since March 16, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Metzo said they have heard many people say due to being shut in at home, they have finally had the time to sort out those unneeded and unwanted items and now need to dispose of them.
Metzo has searched online for guidelines for thrift stores and thinks they have followed all the rules set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Department of Health.
First of all, she said they will only accept clean, gently used items. The chutes on the Orient Street side of the building will remain closed. Donations will be accepted starting June 15 using a “touchless donation” system. This means the donor will have to wear a face mask and will be directed to place donations in a specified area, allowing for social distancing.
“We have created three areas in a very limited space where items can be quarantined,” Metzo said. “They will have to stay there, untouched, for three days. Therefore, donations will be limited to two bags of clothing per family, per week.”
They will not accept any contractor-size bags, truck loads or trunk loads at this time. Household items will be limited by size, such as one piece of small furniture or one large tote of small household items.
Customers must wear a mask and will be limited to 10 in the store at one time. Hand sanitizer will be used at the door. No children will be allowed and only one family member at a time. Shopping time will be limited to accommodate more shoppers. Social distancing must be maintained while in the store and at the checkout counter.
Temporary store hours will be 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. There will be no Tuesday evening hours at this time.
The Thrift Shop board, which includes Metzo, Donna Barnum, Alice Zacher and Sharon Breckenridge, have followed all the guidelines for a Phase II opening, which includes thoroughly disinfecting everything and installing plexiglass at the register, Metzo said.
