By Gene Galin
Pittsboro, NC – Today, the Second Bloom of Chatham held it’s grand opening at the Chatham Commons Shopping Center. We had a chance to be there and get a look at what this all means.
At the reopening, Second Bloom board co-chairman Cindy Perry mentioned: The Second Bloom store proceeds, every bit of the proceeds go to help the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault here in Chatham County. And through the years, the two years that we were located downtown in the courthouse circle, that the Stafford family gave us a discounted rent, so that we could have the store and benefit the county even more.
The location now is here at the Food Lion shopping center. I think the official name is Chatham Commons. We are in unit six and seven. We’d like to say that we’re located between the Chinese restaurant and Mexican restaurant, but I understand that the Mexican restaurant is closing. And our good neighbors, Lee’s Beauty and Barber shop are our neighbors and they have been amazing to everybody. Every time we came up with a big load of furniture or clothing in our arms, Tony the barber has helped us load or unload or do whatever needs to be done.
This community has just been amazing. People have come forward to help us with lighting, with flooring, with paint. The contributions are just outflowing from the community. We are so grateful.
What we have here are a selection of volunteers and board members. And Denise Honeycutt is one of our board members. Linda Batley is one of our board members. I am a board board member. And the rest of these wonderful folks are volunteers in the store. Debbie is the store manager. And it’s just been it’s been a joint effort, a wonderful community based effort to get the store up and going. Let’s not forget about all the donations because every single bit of the clothing sold in the store is is donated by members of the community. And, in particular, the Fearrington women, the Gallaway Ridge people have given us an amazing variety of not only donations, but support for our projects.
What if if somebody wants to volunteer, what do they need to do?
Linda Batley: Sheila Beaudry is in charge of our Signup Genius. You can email 2ndbloomvols@gmail.com. You will be sent a link to the Signup Genius. We have shifts here for sales, as well as sorting in the back room. And we are open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 to 4. That’s usually when most people like to come in and sort. We can also meet on Sundays and Mondays during closed hours, if you prefer to deal with COVID as best we can. Thank you for considering volunteering,
Donations can be done on our website if you prefer to pay with either PayPal or a credit card. Okay. However, the easiest way is just to go to your bank or write out of one of those old checks and you can mail your donation to Second Bloom of Chatham, P.O. Box 598, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
How can I help?
You can volunteer, you can donate money or clothes, or you can stop in and buy clothes.
We have beautiful jewelry. So seriously. I mean, people have things that they have loved and enjoy, but no longer can wear or no longer do wear. Bring them here if they’re nice and good things. Donating your clothing, your jewelry, and men’s clothing as well. Because what we’re about; the mission is about making life better for women who have been in very difficult situations.
How does this help folks? Who does it help in the community?
Cindy Perry: There are a number of things. One of them is that when people are escaping a violent situation, often they need temporary housing, food, sometimes clothing which we can supply. And so those are the kinds of direct benefits that we give to people who are survivors of domestic violence, men and women.
We have counseling. Our program director, Tansy Hill offers counseling sessions and an individual works to help people through what is undoubtedly a very difficult time in their lives.
The actual “Second Bloom” name came from the concept that people who have suffered domestic violence or sexual assault can bloom again, can find a new life free from violence. So it’s in a way a moniker for the idea that in our lives, they can help people, help fund our programming. We are looking to hire a person who’s a Spanish speaker so that we can have more stability in the Hispanic community. We’re looking forward to that service.
Donations
Second Bloom Thrift Shop welcomes donations of clean, gently used or new adult clothing and accessories (shoes, purses, ties, belts, scarves, jewelry, hats, gloves, etc). These items can be brought into store any time it is open or placed in a white box in front of shop when closed.
At this time Second Bloom Thrift Shop cannot accept children’s clothing, underwear, bras or socks (except new socks), housewares, furniture, sports equipment or tools. If you have an item that you think may benefit a survivor of domestic violence/sexual assault, please call the shop to inquire about our current client needs.
Because of COVID-19, the Second Bloom store was closed from March to June. During the shutdown, the nonprofit secured funding to remain open and become a North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence accredited agency.
The organization maintains a domestic violence and abuse 24-hour hotline, which has remained fully operational throughout the pandemic. The hotline’s current number is 919-545-0055.
Second Bloom thrift store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Sunday of each month from 12 to 4 p.m.
Second Bloom of Chatham
P.O. Box 598
Pittsboro, NC 27312
24-hour helpline: 919-545-0055
Administrative line: 919-545-0055