The Emporia Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store will soon close for good after operating more than 20 years here.
Kerin Coberly, operations manager at the DAV, said the store can’t find a suitable building for what they need.
“We’ve looked and what we need we just can’t find for what we can afford,” Coberly said Monday afternoon. “Unfortunately, we can’t afford a whole lot.”
Coberly said she is unsure the exact closing date of the store, which is located at 324 Commercial St.
“Since there is so much stuff in here, I was going to leave it open a little bit,” she said. “I wanted to sell everything so we don’t have to take it to another store. If I can sell everything in two to three weeks that will probably be the closing date. The less stuff I have to haul the better.”
Coberly said the other two stores in Kansas City, Kan., and Leavenworth, are overloaded and can’t take extra inventory.
ll75angel (anonymous) says...
It is to bad Emporia is loosing this store. I cant even beging in count the amount of times I have been able to go into this store and walk out with several items of clothing, or complete outfits for 1/4 of what I would pay at elsewhere. I can find things for my entire family there. Priced better than even the Salvation Army thrift store most of the time. With very few choices for clothing in town that some can afford, it is a shame to see this place close. I will miss it terribly, and will be one of MANY shoppers in there taking advantage of what I can find before they do close. It is to bad that there is not an owner of an empyt building that would be willing to help them out. They do so much for our community, our commuity should do something for them.
June 19, 2007 at 11:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Just another way of running people out of town!!!!!!!!!
June 20, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4Jayhawks (anonymous) says...
Snake-I would like to know where you get your information concerning the Salvation Army?? I can assure you that all donations are sold at the store or recycled. Employees are only allowed to buy items after they are put in the store and on their own time. Another piece of information-the money made at The Salvation Army stay locally to help the needy in our community, unlike the DAV. Not to say that what the DAV does is not worthy, helping the veterans is an invaluable service. It is sad to see the store close.
Next time you make accusations, Snake, you should make sure your information is accurate.
June 20, 2007 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ll75angel (anonymous) says...
In snake's defence, I volunteered at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on 2 seperate occasions. Both times I did so I witnessed several paid employees sorting through bins and bags and boxes for items they would like to have. NEVER did an employee pay for said items. They were taken out at the end of the day to their personal vehicle. I recall one lady commenting on her sister who would love that dress. She put it in a bag and set it by the back door. I witnessed a paid employee throwing books in the dumpster. When I asked why, she stated, they wont sell.,they are too old. So what...you cant speak for everyone. They are books for goodness sake. Therefore, 4Jayhawks, Snake's infomation is accurate. Maybe you dont see or know everything that happends in that thrift store as you seem to think you do. And what do you mean "recycled", is that what you mean by employees taking things home for personal use, free of charge. I used to donate all mine and my childrens clothes to the Salvation Army, NO MORE!!! After I saw that, I would rather box them up and pay to store them, than think my good will, is going to go to someone who can afford to buy it, versus someone who cant.
June 21, 2007 at 12:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4Jayhawks (anonymous) says...
I am sorry you [both] feel that way about the Salvation Army, I am not going to argue this point about what I "think" I know. I do know. And fortunatly many people in the community do support the Salvation Army. (Just look at the drop area) and have confidence about what the donations are used for.
June 21, 2007 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sunshine (anonymous) says...
It's really sad to see yet another business closing in Emporia. I will be visiting the DAV as much as possible before their doors close.
I too have decided not to donate to the Salvation Army any more, for a couple of reasons. I have donated many boxes and bags of clothing and other things over the 5 years I have lived in Emporia and on a recent trip to donate a car load of clothing, books, toys, etc, I became very discouraged. It is highly unlikely that anything I donated will be sold anytime soon. The place is so overcrowded, I am sure it is a fire hazard. There are boxes upon boxes stacked 5 high at least. Their overstock has grown drastically since the first time I donated. I looked around and thought of all the items that could be helping families, and I know there are a good many families in Emporia that could use the extra help.
I have shopped in the Salvation Army many times, and I do think they are over priced, perhaps lowering prices will sell more and reduce the gross overstock, possibly making more money to use for all the great things the Salvation Army does to help people.
I would not be suprised if a worker or two took some items home: there does not seem to be a lack of dishonest people in Emporia. On the other hand, maybe they deserve to take home an item or two for their efforts, and besides it will be a couple items less that will sit and rot in storage.
It does make me very sad to hear about books being thrown away. I thought that donating books there would mean that some child or adult would have the pleasure of owning a book that they could then share with someone else. I will now take all my books to the library and other worthy causes. At least the library gives away many of the donated books they receive, even if they are "old".
Sometimes donated items never make it inside: once after a move I donated two van loads of items I no longer needed. I took these things in at night to the little after hours area. I unloaded one van load and went back to get another and in that time (15minutes) some vulture took everything out that I had dropped off, leaving only the items they didn't want strewn all over the floor. I was sickened by this, I have since learned that there are people that watch for things to be dropped off, they take what they want, and sell it in garage sales. So much for donating to help those who need it more........
There are other worthy causes in Emporia to donate to such as SOS.
June 22, 2007 at 1:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
siamesefred (anonymous) says...
I am encouraged that so many have things they'd like to donate. Please take time to investigate other options... or start a new program. I don't have the details, but I've seen flyers that Grace United Methodist in Emporia is collecting good clothing for school children. They plan to give it away at an organized event in early August. Would be a great place to donate gently used children's clothing.
I know it takes LOTS of work, but there could be a good ministry effort out there for churches to consider, whether it's clothing, books or whatever. Maybe the homeschooling association could organize a book swap. All of us parents have TONS of old books that our children have outgrown. When we visiting family at Christmas, we took a huge box of books to the younger cousins.
June 22, 2007 at 6:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )