Thrift store serves area on many levels

There's a new thrift store in town, but there's a lot more going on than resale at this store. Located at 901 Cloquet Ave., Northern Lights Community Action provides secondhand clothes, furniture, kitchenware and many other essentials. They also provide jobs, and vocational training for people with disabilities.

Northern Lights Community Action was started by Heather Wright. Wright is also the president of NorthStar Community Services, a nonprofit organization in Cloquet.

The idea for the thrift store came to Wright about a year and a half ago, according to Ashley Hanhela, designated coordinator at NorthStar and Wright's second-in-command.

"We didn't have anything to offer our community for resources, such as cheaper things for people like furniture and clothing and since Salvation Army went [and Goodwill before that], we thought 'where can we look to help and benefit our community?'" Hanhela said.

Northern Lights Community Action is a little different than the average thrift store. They work with NorthStar Community Services and its employment services to employ people with disabilities. These clients work with a job coach who shadows them and is there in case they need any help.

Store manager Alyssa Wentz thinks the thrift store has been a positive influence on the people who work there.

"All our clients really enjoy working here," Wentz said. "A lot of them, their favorite thing to do is shop after their shift."

Wentz also said the job coaches have a very positive influence on their clients, and a lot of them become a part of their friendship circle, making the clients excited to come to work.

"Having a job coach helps clients gain independence and the ability to work on their own," Wentz said.

The store employs about 12 to 15 people and every client has a job coach. Hanhela thinks the store has been very successful, above and beyond the joy of having a good-sized and well-

organized thrift store in town again.

"It's going to help a lot of people, not even just the regular population but the people we employ," Hanhela said, "I just see the store helping our community, because we have been very busy since we opened June 1."

NorthStar Community Services doesn't just provide employment for their clients. They also have five residential properties for clients who need housing. The housing varies, depending on the needs of the clients: some with four clients living together and some with just one client who needs extra care and attention. They also provide in-home family support, a community based service where they help with homemaking services, bringing people out into the community, and helping teach life skills.

Hanhela and Wright hope to expand the thrift store to add a client-made goods section. This will be a place for clients who make jewelry and crafts to sell their products to customers. They aren't sure when this is going to happen but they hope soon.

"The reaction from the store opening has been positive," Hanhela said, "Facebook and social media are filled with people wondering where to locate us, where to bring donations, and just general excitement."

The store has gained plenty of donations and customers since it opened almost a month ago. So far, they have no problem keeping the shelves stocked.

The pricing is simple. Each item has a colored sticker and each color has its own price. Red stickers are 25 cents, green is 50 cents, pink is $1, blue is $2, yellow is $5, orange is $10, $20-plus dollars or ask an associate.

To donate, drop items off in the donation barn located on the west side of the former hardware store at 901 Cloquet Ave. or ask inside the store. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call the store at 218-626-5175. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.