SIDNEY – The non-profit thrift store, Nex-to-New, is in the midst of a move to 27 Smith St in Sidney after being at previous location on Main Street for around 15 years.

Nex-to-New is completely run by volunteers and not for profit. Every cent the store makes above its expenses goes towards local organizations and causes.

The thrift store opened in 1970 under the direction of Delaware Opportunities and was taken over by the Sidney Area Social Services Council in 1971.

Since then, it has been completely ran by volunteers and a volunteer board. The starting mission was to help the community by offering a selection of affordable goods, primarily clothing, and throughout the years they've managed to keep prices low with a winter coat in the 70's costing $2 and now somewhere around $2.75. Child and infant clothes are very affordable at the store as well.

While the store is transitioning to its new location it is not open for shopping but they are still open during the posted hours to accept donations. Nex-to-New accepts and sells more than just clothing, they receive a variety items of kitchenware, knick knacks, tools, jewelry, fabric, electronics, pet supplies, and more. When you donate you get a coupon for $1 off of your next purchase at the store.

People come from all over to donate, shop, and to volunteer. The new space the store is moving to offers more room for different items, and better conditions for the volunteers to work in. The owners of the building previously ran a cabinet-making and carpentry shop out of the building and have been great helps to Nex-to-New as they transition, giving them more time to move, extra storage space, and even volunteering their own time.

Nex-to-New currently has about 16 regular volunteers including its board members.

To become a volunteer, head to the store and pick up an application. Volunteers participate in the capacity to which they are able to and with what they want to do. Some are only able to come in a few hours a month while others go to the store daily. Volunteers accept, sort, price, and display every piece that gets donated. What they can't sell for whatever reason either gets donated somewhere else or repurposed to be used or sold in another form. For example, personal care items, like shampoo, perfume, etc... get donated to a local women's shelter, and food to the food pantry. They've also been known to repurpose stained or torn clothing by recycling buttons. There are just a few things they can't accept or sell, things like medical equipment, outdated car seats or baby equipment, large or upholstered furniture, opened personal care items, but if they do get something like that in, they try to donate it somewhere where it can be used.

Volunteer and board member Dale Haynes said, “It was originally started to help the community by having low cost goods that people could afford, that's the first part. Helping people. It also gives people a place to donate their things so that doesn't end up in the landfills, and once we sell, and after expenses, then we have the cash that we give out, and it's usually to non-profit organizations, local ones.”

At the annual board meeting, they decide which organizations they'll be donating cash to. They give out multiple grants to local organizations, like the humane society, food banks, fire & police departments, once a year in November. Then throughout the year they support community members in need by providing goods. For instance if someone suffers a house fire, flood, or any kind of emergency, Nex-to-New will donate what it can to help.

Volunteer Team Leader Julie VanBuren said, “I think that volunteering here is extremely rewarding.” She describes volunteering at Nex-to-New as worthwhile for herself and others mentioning an instance where an individual was extremely grateful they were able to afford a winter coat to keep warm thanks to the store.

Maria Sherwood another Volunteer Team Leader commented, “We keep our prices low to help the community.”

As they are transitioning to the new location at 27 Smith Street, donations continue to come in. The volunteers and their family members have been working tirelessly to get the store up and running, making shelves, unique displays, signage and organizing donations. The new store will feature a $0.10 display, an area for free bibles and other religious items donated, a new men's section, infant and kids display, an area dedicated to housewares, and much more. All made possible by community members volunteering their time and those donating usable goods.

They plan to reopen for shopping on May 1. To keep up with Nex-to-New and for updates on the store reopening the best place to check is their Facebook page found at <a href="www.facebook.com/11nex.to.new " target=”_blank”><u>this link</u></a>