Second Pacific Thrift Store Celebrates Its Grand Opening
It happened! On August 17, the second Pacific Thrift Store, located at 7424 Greenback Ln, Citrus Heights, CA 95610, celebrated its official Grand Opening.
Representatives of the Association, city agencies, the Chamber of Commerce, and community organizations attended the special event. Following a pastoral prayer of blessing, Association President A. B. Pronin was given the honor of cutting the red ribbon.
A great deal of effort went into preparing the store for its official opening. All major decisions were made by the Board of Directors, led by V. Stupin, Vice President of the Association, while P. Tsvirinko, director of both stores, and his large team of employees worked to put those decisions into action.
“Yes, there was a lot of work involved in preparing the store for the opening, but we did not encounter any serious problems along the way,” said Elena, manager of the new store. “We have a wonderful, close-knit, and friendly team. Everyone focused on their responsibilities while always being ready to help one another.”
“That is absolutely true,” continued Pavel Dmitrievich Tsvirinko. “Behind everything you see in the store today is someone’s work, someone’s hands and heart. Whenever I begin a new project, I pray that God will send me people who can do the job well and do it right. The team we have today is evidence that God answers our prayers.
“First of all, I would especially like to recognize our manager, Elena, who has put tremendous effort and dedication into making all of this possible. She has poured her heart into this store. She has a wonderful way of relating to people and values every person on our team. That is extremely important, and her attitude influences the entire team.
“Of course, many people have worked alongside her and have also invested a great deal of time and effort in preparing the store. I will not mention everyone by name because I would not want to accidentally leave anyone out, but we deeply appreciate every employee — those who work at the registers, those who sort and process donated items, and those who perform many other important tasks.”
“Are all of your employees believers from our churches?”
“No, we do not have such a requirement or preference. First and foremost, we consider a person’s professional qualifications and whether he or she meets the requirements of the position. Our doors are therefore open to everyone, regardless of nationality or religious beliefs.”
“What are your expectations for this new store? The Association already had one thrift store, and this one is probably about three times larger. What are you hoping to accomplish through this new location?”
“One of the purposes of today’s Grand Opening is to let more people know about our store, our goals, and, most importantly, why we operate these stores in the first place.
“The primary purpose of Pacific Thrift Store is to support missionaries serving in different parts of the world. All profits generated by our stores go toward supporting missionary work. To accomplish this, we need the support of many people.
“There are several ways people can support our stores. First, they can donate items — clothing, shoes, kitchenware, and many other things. We accept a wide variety of donated items that can then be offered for sale to our customers.
“Another important way to help is through volunteering. People of different ages who have even a few hours available each week can come and serve alongside us.
“We also offer paid employment. Our regular employees receive wages and help ensure that the stores operate consistently and effectively. We need people who are willing to serve in this way as well. Everyone is welcome!”
In closing, we would like to remind you of the addresses of our two stores:
- 6101-Watt Ave, North Highlands, CA — near Second Slavic Baptist Church;
- 7424 Greenback Ln, Citrus Heights, CA 95610 — our new location.
More information about Pacific Thrift Store can be found on its website and social media:
Website: Pacific Thrift Store
Facebook: Pacific Thrift Furniture
Instagram: pacificthriftstore
And remember: every purchase you make at the Association’s thrift stores is a contribution to missionary work. Please pray for the ministry of both stores and support this ministry in any way you can!
Olga Avetisova
Photos: S. Iotko
