The Frugal Coyote Thrift Shop
raises an estimated 25% of the funding for the Borrego
Children's Center, as well as providing the area's only source
for quality used goods.
The shop is located at 2405 Stirrup Rd, according to Connie
Walasek, the long-time director of the Children's Center.
The shop sells one hundred percent donated items, and its
carried just about every item one can imagine: clothing, of
course, but also jewelry, books, furniture and household
appliances. It's even had skis and snow shoes at one point,
which is unusual for the desert.
According to Mrs. Walasek "We have things that we can't ID, but
then someone will say 'I know exactly what that is!"
The shop's winter hours are Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30
p.m., and summer, three days a week (whichever three days work
out the best), 8:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
The store has a paid manager, Sandra Johnson, who started in
January.
"He's doing some nice things in the shop, reorganizing it and
catching up on some of the repairs that needed to be done, using
different ideas on merchandising," said Mrs. Walasek.
The rest of the store is staffed by volunteers, about eight all
told, who rotate as the summer progresses.
The shop has a sidewalk sale in the spring and occasionally the
fall and bag and quarter sales a couple of times a month. The
latter is primarily clothing to make room for new items.
When the thrift shop was organized the goal was not only a
source of funding for the Children's Center, but it was also
felt that a part of the community would benefit from good used
goods.
"There's a regular clientele who come in on a regular basis to
see what's new and to check it out. So I think we have fulfilled
our goal," says Mrs. Walasek.
The Children's Center, which is the beneficiary of this money,
is a daycare center, located at 580 Circle J. Drive, that
provides preschool, full daycare and after school care, for
children ages 2-14.
Started in 1984, over the course of a year its average
enrollment is 45 children. Primarily the parents are working
parents, although some are parents who simply want enrichment
activities for their youngsters.
To reach the thrift shop, call 767-4608.
