Pink Door Thrift Shop celebrates 40th anniversary this week
NORWICH – When it opened its doors on May 4, 1972, the Pink Door Thrift Shop in Norwich set out to provide the community with affordable clothing while also raising funds for the Chenango Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
Now celebrating its 40th year, the Pink Door has kept its original mission and proven to be a valuable asset for hundreds of area residents. The store has raised nearly $645,000 for the CMH Auxiliary to help provide better patient care and comfort.
To celebrate its milestone anniversary, the store is offering shoppers 40 percent off one item beginning today and continuing through Saturday. In addition, cookies will be distributed to customers on Friday – the store’s actual anniversary day.
Twenty-five people regularly donate time to the Pink Door, with volunteers racking up more that 5,500 service hours for CMH last year and there’s no sign of the little thrift store slowing down, said Janet Rubottom, chairperson for the Pink Door.
“The Pink Door Thrift benefits the hospital, its patients and the community while providing a local place to drop off donations, which are tax deductible,” she said. “Everyone benefits. Equally important is that we also provide a resource for the community and shoppers looking for adult and children’s clothing and shoes, household items, books, and small home furnishings at a fraction of their original cost.”
Since Pink Door founder Betty Ewards Willard first opened the shop’s doors on 19 Mitchell St., the thrift store has relocated four different times in the city before finally settling at its current location at 21 S. Broad St. When the adjacent Salvation Army was forced to close in 2009, the Pink Door expanded its floor space and opened a new entrance on South Broad.
“We rely on our generous community to provide donations of items they no longer need,” Rubottom said. “We have people moving, downsizing, cleaning out their homes, or they may have simply outgrown the need for these items and we can make them available to people just starting out or on a tight budget.”
Pink Door volunteer Debi Carnrike praised the store as a source she used to rekindle her love for the community. After moving away from Norwich several years ago, Carnrike and her husband returned to the city in 2007 to refurbish her husband’s childhood home. Carnike became an avid volunteer at the Pink Door as a way of giving back to the community.
“My long history of volunteerism taught me that the best way to make a connection was to donate my time to a worthy cause,” Carnrike said. “What a wonderful experience it has been! Making friends with the woman I share hours with and the openness of the customers has made this decision both fulfilling and fun.”
“Due to the generosity of the Norwich community and volunteers at the Pink Door, we have been an overwhelming success,” added Rubottom.
Now celebrating its 40th year, the Pink Door has kept its original mission and proven to be a valuable asset for hundreds of area residents. The store has raised nearly $645,000 for the CMH Auxiliary to help provide better patient care and comfort.
To celebrate its milestone anniversary, the store is offering shoppers 40 percent off one item beginning today and continuing through Saturday. In addition, cookies will be distributed to customers on Friday – the store’s actual anniversary day.
Twenty-five people regularly donate time to the Pink Door, with volunteers racking up more that 5,500 service hours for CMH last year and there’s no sign of the little thrift store slowing down, said Janet Rubottom, chairperson for the Pink Door.
“The Pink Door Thrift benefits the hospital, its patients and the community while providing a local place to drop off donations, which are tax deductible,” she said. “Everyone benefits. Equally important is that we also provide a resource for the community and shoppers looking for adult and children’s clothing and shoes, household items, books, and small home furnishings at a fraction of their original cost.”
Since Pink Door founder Betty Ewards Willard first opened the shop’s doors on 19 Mitchell St., the thrift store has relocated four different times in the city before finally settling at its current location at 21 S. Broad St. When the adjacent Salvation Army was forced to close in 2009, the Pink Door expanded its floor space and opened a new entrance on South Broad.
“We rely on our generous community to provide donations of items they no longer need,” Rubottom said. “We have people moving, downsizing, cleaning out their homes, or they may have simply outgrown the need for these items and we can make them available to people just starting out or on a tight budget.”
Pink Door volunteer Debi Carnrike praised the store as a source she used to rekindle her love for the community. After moving away from Norwich several years ago, Carnrike and her husband returned to the city in 2007 to refurbish her husband’s childhood home. Carnike became an avid volunteer at the Pink Door as a way of giving back to the community.
“My long history of volunteerism taught me that the best way to make a connection was to donate my time to a worthy cause,” Carnrike said. “What a wonderful experience it has been! Making friends with the woman I share hours with and the openness of the customers has made this decision both fulfilling and fun.”
“Due to the generosity of the Norwich community and volunteers at the Pink Door, we have been an overwhelming success,” added Rubottom.
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