Staying with the story
The Springfield News-Sun has kept you up to date on the fate of the Salvation Army Thrift Store since it was first announced that the store would close. You can count on us to cover all the top stories that impact the local economy.
The former Salvation Army Thrift Store, located at 127 Scioto St., will now remain open under a new name and new ownership.
On Dec. 1, the store, which will be called the Community Thrift Store, will transfer ownership to a local board of directors under the Champaign County Ministerial Association.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the Salvation Army would be closing the store for good Nov. 11 because it had been operating in the red for too long. But a groundswell of community support came to the aid of the store.
Now the Community Thrift Store will operate exactly the same way as the old store, but under the new owners, said Ken Koch, treasurer of the store.
“The public will only see a new sign once November comes and goes,” Koch said.
Though the store will operate under the The Champaign County Ministerial Association’s name, the organization will play a minimal role in running the store.
Chris Livingston, pastor of Life Net Christian Fellowship in Urbana and a member of the association, said he will have a seat on the board and the association will do what it can to help. But no changes are planned.
“We just kind of try to be almost like cheerleaders,” Livingston said. “We want to be able to help any way we can. As far as changes, we’re just coming alongside of them and they’re going to continue to do exactly what they’ve always done.”
The ministerial group is made up of nine local churches that decided to put denominational differences aside and focus on helping the community, Livingston said.
The association got involved when thrift store employees approached Livingston and another ministry he serves with called Stepping Stones — a ministry that helps the needy of Champaign County — after it was announced that the Salvation Army was closing the store.
“We just didn’t want to see another help ministry just go away like that, so they approached us about trying to come and help and trying to get some direction and we were happy to do that,” Livingston said. “We know that’s an important opportunity of meeting needs here in Champaign County.”
Livingston said the group received overwhelming feedback from the community, pointing out that many people couldn’t afford to pay regular prices at other local stores. So it was important to the community that the thrift store remained open.
“It’s so important that we just felt like we had to step in and try to make that a go and encourage and help them however we can,” he said.
A lot of people stood behind the thrift store and will be happy to see it continue, Koch said. When it was first announced that the store would be closing, Koch said that they received a 35-page petition to save the store.
“It’s a win-win thing,” Koch said. “People in need will get some help and the community will still get a place to shop and people will have a place to donate unused items.”
Koch said they will still be looking for donated items such as furniture, appliances, household items and clothing as well as financial assistance.
He also said the store’s profit will still go to meet the needs of the community.
“It will all be local,” Koch said. “Money will be generated locally and it will be for local assistance. Nothing will be going out of town anymore.”
In order to get operating money for the new store, Koch said they will host a fund-raising concert at the Champaign County Fairgrounds from 3-9 p.m. Nov. 8. He said there will be live music from local bands Grampy Bone, Simply Entertainment, Green Crush and Unseen Victory as well as performances from singers Kaitlyn Lebo and Buddy Paul. He also said there will be food and raffle prizes at the concert.
Although the Salvation Army won’t be affiliated with the store anymore, it won’t be far away. Koch said the Salvation Army will have an office within the store for its voucher program, which will be separately funded and separately administered.
“They need a place to do that, so we’re providing them an office location since we’re both in the business of helping people,” Koch said.
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