St. Teresa Thrift Store Celebrates National Thrift Shop Day by giving back

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – National Thrift Shop Day brought a crowd to St. Teresa Thrift Store on Monday, but the celebration was about more than finding a good deal.

The Bowling Green store held a customer appreciation event to thank shoppers and donors who support its work throughout the year. The first 150 purchasing customers received a free St. Teresa Thrift Store hat or tumbler, while visitors could also enter a drawing for one of four $25 gift cards.

Staff members said customers were lined up outside the store Monday morning, highlighting the support the thrift store receives from the community.

“We have regulars that are out there every morning waiting to come in, so they’re always excited about our merchandise,” Patty Polston said.

That support helps turn donated and purchased items into funding for local organizations.

St. Teresa Thrift Store proceeds are used by St. Teresa Ministries to provide grants to nonprofit organizations serving Warren County. Staff said those grants support local needs including food insecurity, clothing and assistance for families.

By the end of the current fiscal year, St. Teresa Ministries expects to have awarded more than $1 million in grants to Warren County, according to staff at the store.

The store’s impact also extends to sustainability. Items that cannot be sold are sometimes sent to recycling partners rather than being sent to landfills.

Staff said the customer appreciation event was a way to recognize the people who make that local impact possible.

“Without our donors or our shoppers, we would not be able to do what we do, which is give grants out to local nonprofits in Warren County,” Jennifer Bailey said.

The store also highlighted local nonprofit partnerships during Monday’s event, including the Down Syndrome of South Central Kentucky, which brought an ice cream truck to the celebration.