Media Contact: Stacy Neubeck, Communications & Public Relations Partner, Avera Marshall, 507-537-9024, [email protected]
MARSHALL, MINN. (March 28, 2023) — The Avera Marshall Thrift Store has been part of the Marshall community for more than 35 years, and leaders say plans for a new business model are aimed at equipping the store for success long into the future.
Starting later this spring, the Avera Marshall Thrift Store will employ all paid staff rather than relying on volunteer hours. In addition, an updated sales system will allow debit/credit card purchases as well as inventory tracking, and new store hours will offer more evening and weekend shopping opportunities.
The number of volunteers supporting efforts at the Thrift Store has decreased in recent years, Avera representatives said.
“In addition to having fewer volunteers, previous generations commonly volunteered several hours per week; while today’s volunteers, understandably, are more likely to volunteer fewer hours. We need to take a different approach to the work,” said Debbie Streier, Regional President and CEO. “We believe the right approach to accomplish that is to hire paid staff.”
“The Thrift Store is really special and unique,” Streier said. “We don’t have anything quite like it elsewhere across Avera. It’s an incredible demonstration of our Avera mission and values through community outreach – making low-cost goods available to people in need, repurposing items that are no longer needed to keep them out of the landfill and creating an opportunity for those involved in the work to make connections and be part of something bigger than themselves. It’s just too important to not keep it going.”
The store serves a lot of people – with almost 56,000 customer interactions in the last year alone. Also in the past year, the store has recycled 12,000 pounds of metal and 80,000 pounds of fiber. It also generates funds that come back to Avera Marshall for building projects and equipment purchases. Since the 1980s, the store, along with other volunteer efforts, have cumulatively raised nearly $6 million.
“Beyond the social impact the store makes in our community, it’s remarkable to think back on its financial impact over the years. Proceeds from sales enhance local health care and have contributed toward so many pivotal projects and programs like the construction of the Avera Cancer Institute, advances in local surgical equipment, the addition of 3-D mammography technology, the dialysis water room and so much more,” Streier said.
Current volunteers are being invited to apply for the 24 part-time jobs. In addition, Avera is collaborating with Advance Opportunities to create a new source of meaningful work opportunities for clients and meet a portion of the staffing needs for the store.
“While hiring staff will bring added cost at a time when finances are challenging in the health care industry, the planned customer-focused changes like accepting debit or credit card payment and adjusting store hours are anticipated to increase sales enough to offset the cost of hiring staff,” Streier said.
“We are excited about this new approach to carrying forward the vision of those who initially founded the Thrift Store and all those who have been part of its success since then,” Streier said. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has played a part in this legacy. When we look back on the time and energy put into this operation, the dedication is just astounding. We are encouraging current volunteers to consider remaining part of our Avera family by applying for a position or by volunteering with our hospice program or long-term care facility.”
Jobs will be posted at Avera.org/careers in the coming weeks and will be open to anyone interested in applying. The store is anticipated to go through a transition period from April 1 through late May when the store will be open on Fridays only. This time will allow for hiring and training staff, simplifying the pricing structure, installing the new cash register system and more. The donation room hours will remain the same – Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Remaining open during this transition will ensure we are still providing some shopping access for people who depend on the store,” Streier said.
When the Thrift Store fully reopens in May, planned hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.