Hidden Treasures, the local thrift store at 143, 4th Street in Reston, is seeking some ambitious and motivated people to take over the role of receiving, sorting, and pricing merchandise at the much needed second-hand shop in the town of Reston.
“We would like a new group to take over and replace us,” says Pat Forbes, one of the volunteers at Hidden Treasures. She says there are three of them that are there under the auspices of the St. John’s Anglican Church plus four community volunteers.
“We have decided we are closing on Dec. 31, as a couple of us have some health issues and we’re just getting tired,” adds Forbes. Unless new volunteers step up for Hidden Treasures, Dec. 1 is the final day the store will accept donations.
Forbes adds that the circumstances have been brought to the municipality’s attention, and she feels the town does not want to lose this service to the community, as the thrift store takes all donations and therefore keeps a certain amount out of the landfill. She adds that being a charity, they also donate to various groups and causes and to people who have needs within the community.
“It is a service that definitely needs to be there,” Forbes says. “The little store that the town didn’t know it needed.”
In the summertime, there are a lot of people from the campground, lake and golf course that come to the store and this also helps the other businesses in town.
Forbes also thinks that extended hours would help in order to bring in the people that are working. It’s difficult for people who work until 5 p.m. to patronize the store. While there may not be enough business to be open five days a week, longer hours would work better.
Sheila Perreault and Dene Skelton are the other two women who work alongside Pat Forbes at Hidden Treasures. She says if one of them isn’t there, they either have an appointment or are sick.
The store has always been staffed by volunteers but that may change depending on what is decided. “We have tossed the idea out there if a paid position would be a possibility,” says Forbes.
There is an upcoming community meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the RES Multipurpose Room in Reston to discuss the future of the main street budget-friendly thrift shop. https://www.facebook.com/HiddenTressuresReston/
