HSC Auxiliary Thrift Store to Close Feb. 29
By Robin Vinci | Editor at January 7, 2024 | 6:00 pm | Print
Maria Poole remembers when her mother and two aunts were part of the original group that opened the Hospital of Special Care (HSC) Auxiliary Thrift Shop in 1963. Now, 63 years later the store is looking at its last days.
“They are probably turning over in their graves to think this is happening.” said Poole, store manager. “This place started up across from St. Mary’s Church.”
From there the store moved to Arch St. Two more moves were on Arch St. One had a loading zone and plenty of parking. At that time the store was making a profit.
Three years ago the store moved to 89 West Main St. But now due to not enough parking and nowhere to load, the store has had problems. An increase in rent only added on to the problems and on Feb 29 the store plans to close.
“People hear we are closing and are all upset,” said Poole. “We had one girl who walked out crying.”
Poole said the auxiliary has looked for someone to sponsor them or give them a grant and nothing has worked out.
“Maybe the right people have not heard we are closing,” said Poole. “I’ve done everything I could.”
The 15 or so volunteers have begun emptying out the store and donating items to the Salvation Army.
“We have a lot of street people who come in and look around. Some come in to keep warm. Others tell you they just got out of jail like they graduated from Harvard,” said Poole. “But, we don’t care. We are a service to the community. Those people are human beings just like us.”
One day Poole remembers sewing buttons on man’s sweater.
“He needed the buttons to close it up,” she said. “We are more than a thrift store. We are here to help.”
The volunteers at the store have met many people and the stories they can tell are numerous.
“We get new people all the time as well,” said Poole. “We had a couple of women come in from Hartford last weekend.”
The HSC Auxiliary still has a store at the hospital, but it is not a thrift store.
The money made from these stores go directly to the patients for things as vans, televisions, haircuts and more.
“We need to find an angel to fall out of the sky. All we need is $30,000. It’s not a lot, but it is a lot,” said Poole. “That money for patients is not going to be there. They are going to suffer. We’ve helped a lot of people.”
All the volunteers who work at the thrift shop will retire. Different people work everyday.
Poole does double shifts.
“I have been in here Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays,” she said. “We decided to open on Saturdays in December and will until we close.”
Poole said Mayor Erin Stewart has tried to help find them a new spot, but most were too small or too costly.
“It’s unfortunate There is nothing left for us to do,” said Poole. “We hoped this would work out, but obviously it has not.”
Anyone interested in helping the thrift store or purchasing a few items ranging from households goods to clothes are encouraged to stop in the store and speak to Poole.
