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Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society thrift store offers savings,volunteer opportunities
STORY AND PHOTO BY MC1 CHRISTAL A. BAILEY
Navy Compass Staff
There are times when you may find yourself down on your luck. One day you’re cruising down the street in your new car, and the next thing you know, it won’t start. Now you have a car that’s out of order and the lack of cash to fix it. So what do you do?
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society thrift store offers savings,volunteer opportunities
STORY AND PHOTO BY MC1 CHRISTAL A. BAILEY
Navy Compass Staff
There are times when you may find yourself down on your luck. One day you’re cruising down the street in your new car, and the next thing you know, it won’t start. Now you have a car that’s out of order and the lack of cash to fix it. So what do you do?
Call Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) San Diego. NMCRS is a private non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping out Sailors and Marines through difficult financial times. In addition to their annual fund drive, the society raises funds by using profits garnered through the NMCRS Thrift Store.
The thrift store provides a varietyof items for sale to active-duty,retired, reserves and DOD civilians and their families. The store is in the process of minor renovations and according to thrift shop Gerriss Klant, the store will start to offer more civilian items.
“I’m trying to build up the civilian side,” Klant said. “We used to be 75 percent uniforms. Now we’re about half-and-half.”
All items offered in the store are donated not only be military members, but companies often donate brand-new items to the store. Klant feels the goods offered in the store helps military members balance their finances.
“We live in San Diego and the cost of living is enormous here,” Klant commented. “Unfortunately we don’t make a lot of money in the military, and we’re able to offer the best quality used materials. It helps stretch your budget.
“We’re serving the purpose in two ways. One, we’re making new and used goods and materials available at below market value, and two, we’re generating money to go toward programs at NMCRS,” she added.
In addition to offering affordable clothing and household goods, the NMCRS Thrift Store also has a great volunteer program. Volunteers are reimbursed mileage and daycare expenses incurred while volunteering. Klant said volunteering is also a great way to meet people.
“It’s nice for a young spouse who doesn’t know anybody to have the opportunity to meet people and volunteer at the same time,” she said. “It helps us because we need bodies, but it helps you by giving you the chance to do volunteer work and meet people.”
The thrift store is located on Naval Base San Diego just inside Gate 7, and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information
about the store, call 619-238-1587.
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