Penny Pinchers, the Hospital Auxiliary thrift store, re-opened on Tuesday and I resumed my volunteer position that afternoon. I had confirmed that appropriate precautions were being taken and also confirmed that I would be sorting donated clothing and restricted to the back of the store. That didn't happen! Someone did not show up to handle the entrance and control the number of people in the store (7) so I was told to manage that position as it is a mandatory monitoring...more important than sorting clothing!
This afternoon I will return for another three hour shift of sorting clothing. This should be much smoother because the store will not be open. They are doing a gradual re-opening of both stores on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 11:00am-3:00pm. Today I will just sort, tag and hang clothing in preparation for tomorrow's opening.
One challenge for the Hospital Auxiliary is the aging population of its volunteers. Most of us are in that vulnerable 60-90 age range. Another challenge is that most shoppers at thrift stores are browsers! It isn't like a grocery store where customers shop for specific items, pay and leave. Thrift store shoppers want to check every shelf and every rack for bargains so when the first ones are allowed inside at 11:00am...the others in line could wait for 1-2 hours before it is their turn to browse! Seriously doubt that any item in the store is worth waiting that long!
On Tuesday afternoon a customer entered the clothing store side of Penny Pincher at 1:00pm and told me that she was first in line at the other side and she had spent two hours hunting for bargains there. She was in the clothing side for another 1 1/2 hours!! Meanwhile people were lined up...waiting for their turn! There is no apparent solution...no way to limit shopping time to 30 minutes. Why are people so eager to spend?!
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