December 17, 1990
Tech Center News

New Warren Thrift Shop Benefits Kidney Foundation of Michigan

By purchasing items from the just-opened Sunshine Thrift Store in Warren, customers actually help fund patient services and research programs conducted by the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

Through a unique agreement between the owners of re-sale shop and Continental Charitable Communications Corp., the Kidney Foundation expects to clear more than $50,000 in the first year, alone.

The organization hopes to eventually reap up to $150,000 annually, which it will use to support research, patient services, organ donor, professional education and public information programs.

According to Daniel Carney, executive director, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, the agreement calls for Sunshine Thrift Stores of Michigan, Inc. to purchase, exclusively, the items the foundation secures through donations.

Continental Charitable Communications will handle the soliciting of clothing and household goods donations from the community.

"Once the Kidney Foundation obtains the donations, we then turn around and sell the items to the thrift shop," Carney explained. "The agreement states that the thrift shop can only purchase items to stock its shelves from us."

The Michigan Sunshine Thrift Store/Kidney Foundation partnership mirrors a similar arrangement in Florida.

According to John Nichols, general manager, Sunshine Thrift Stores of Michigan, the company's three Florida re-sale outlets maintain identical agreements with the state's Kidney Foundation.

He explained that when Sunshine Thrift Stores decided to expand its operations to Michigan, the company also wanted to extend its relationship with the charitable group to the Great Lakes State.

"The Kidney Foundation is an organization a lot of people can relate to," Nichols commented. "It's a great organization that helps a lot of people."

Carney said the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan welcomed the creation of the unique partnership.

"The thrift shops operated by Sunshine Thrift Stores in Florida are probably the cleanest and best-run thrift shops I've ever seen," he commented. "After seeing their operation in Florida, we decided to sign a contract and open the store in Michigan."

More than a year in the making, the Sunshine Thrift Shop in Warren officially opened its doors Nov. 8. It is located on Dequindre road, near 12 Mile, in a former Farmer Jack market.

The store maintains a staff of 25 to 30 employees and offers a wide range of women's, men's and children's apparel, in addition to jewelry, shoes, furniture and household items.

Nichols stressed that all the goods at the shop are top-quality, often name brand items, available at discount prices.

"The main thing we try to get away from is the stereotypical image people have of thrift shops," he emphasized. "We're just like any other retail outlet you'd find at a mall, but instead of new, offers used clothing donated by the community.

"There is nothing wrong with the items, and if there is, they don't reach the floor," Nichols said. "We offer many name brand items...which instead of paying $60 for, people can pay as low as $6.

Carney noted that the re-sale shop purchases everything the foundation arranges for pickup.

"Anything that can't be sold (on the shelves), the shop bundles up and sells as rags or recycles," Carney said.

"Another great aspect to all of this is the new jobs it's creating within the community," Carney added.

He explained many of the phone solicitors asking for donations are homebound or handicapped people, who are now earning a salary as a result of the foundation/re-sale shop agreement.

According to Nichols, the response to the resale shop by consumers has been very positive, so good, in fact, that Sunshine Thrift Stores of Michigan is considering opening another outlet.

Carney said is the decision is made to set up additional shops, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan would stock those stores as well.

"The extra funding earned through this thrift shop operation will be used to support patient services and research in Michigan," he said.

"Presently, over 800 patients are waiting for a kidney transplant. Through public education and increased awareness we hope to greatly reduce this number."

The Sunshine Thrift Shop in Warren is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, 11 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 573-8246.

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