The Mission Boutique, the thrift shop in the basement of Niccolls Memorial Church, is currently closed until Friday, May 1 for cleaning and tidying up before the busy season resumes.
Mary Brophy-Moore, a Mission Boutique Leadership Team member, said the shop is typically closed for a couple weeks in the spring for removal of winter clothing and items that have been in the shop for a while.
But this year because there was more to do than usual—and a smaller crew to assist with the work—the shop was closed for a longer period of time.
“We want it to be clean and stocked with new items before we open it up to the public,” she said.
According to Brophy-Moore, the Mission Boutique is unique in that all of the monetary donations are used to support several organizations including HASCA and CTS locally; Hope House, which serves thousands of meals to homeless people in Utica every year; and Hands of Mercy which educates poor African children.
There is also a reserve that gets used for disaster relief.
None of the proceeds are used to support the church.
The goal of the boutique, she said, is to provide good clothing and household items, donated by the community for others that live in the area.
“Niccolls is a very mission-oriented church.
We ask our patrons to donate as they are able, and in turn, their donations help to support worthy not-for-profit organizations,” she added.
Items that are left over are sent to another organization that serves three northern Adirondack counties.
Beginning Friday, May 1, the shop will be open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Friday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Good, clean, usable donations of clothing and household items may be dropped off in the church basement, rear entrance, anytime. Volunteers are always welcome; anyone interested can contact Brophy-Moore at (315) 369-3475.
Niccolls Church is located at 228 Crosby Blvd. next to the Old Forge Library.
