Thrift shop to benefit community
In February Neil Brogan, pictured above, opened his Southern Outreach Community Thrift Shop at its current 713 N. Liberty Street location. Although still renovating, he says that a lot of improvements have already been made, including the business name being added to the window. "When I acquired the building, there were wires hanging out of the ceiling and very poor lighting," Brogan said. "It needed a lot of work, but I could see the potential for success as well as a much needed service to my community." The purpose for opening the shop is to help lower income families and the community as a whole by carrying household items, men, women and children's clothing and a host of other items at an affordable price. "It is my hope that the citizens of the community will strive to keep their unneeded items in our own community to help benefit others," said Brogan. It is run on a donation basis, which means that items sold, are brought there from homes or storage houses. Brogan says that he is undergoing the process to become a non-profit organization and at this time cannot offer tax receipts. The shop opens at 11am Tuesday - Friday and 1pm on Saturday and closes at 5pm each day. Brogan is a member of First United Methodist Church and bass player for the church's Homegrown Band. Southern Outreach Community Thrift Shop is independently run and has no affiliation with any particular church or denomination.