A rural nonprofit thrift shop is about to reach a big milestone.
The Golden Goose in Catalina soon will hit the $4 million mark in money raised for two local charities in its nine years of existence.
What makes the nonprofit so, well, profitable is its cadre of volunteers. Between 30 and 40 people a day show up to sort donated items, run the cash registers, clean, and work on displays.
One hundred percent of the earnings at the store, 15970 N. Oracle Road, are donated to two local charities.
"The Goose," as volunteers and customers call it, supports SaddleBrooke Community Outreach and Catalina Community Services. The money they receive goes toward helping people through various services, such as food banks and youth programs.
Helen Sanders, day manager and five-year Goose volunteer, said her favorite thing about volunteering is the camaraderie.
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"The customers and the volunteers, they're just an incredible group of people," she said.
Fellow volunteer Jinnie Wilson, 89, agreed. "This is a family. It's a great place to work."
The Goose offers a wide selection of merchandise, which goes through an inspection and cleaning process before it's available to buy.
All the items for sale are donated. The store's vast inventory includes indoor and outdoor furniture, sports equipment, kitchen wares, clothes, electronics, books and more. Recently the store even had three bathtubs for sale.
Wilson compared the organized and efficiently run Golden Goose to an ant farm.
"Everyone has a job," she said.
Each volunteer works hard to make the store look nice and presentable, Sanders said.
"Everything's pretty. It doesn't smell like old shoes in here," she said.
To make it easy for residents of the surrounding community to make donations, the Golden Goose offers a service to pick up things from people's homes.
"A lot of hard work goes into everything," Sanders said.
The store's assistant manager, Ron Peck, said he's very happy working at the store.
"All of the people are so generous and kind, especially with their time. They all have great attitudes," he said.
The Goose has plenty of loyal customers, including Lynn Boyd, who said she appreciates the people who work for the Goose, along with the quality of its merchandise - she furnished her entire home with things from the store.
Another loyal shopper, Jayme Reida, has filled more than one home with Goose goods.
"They have incredible prices," she said, adding, "This is my therapy. When I'm not having a good day, I come here. This is a fun place to be."
How popular is it? Every day before its 10 a.m. opening, lines form outside the store, fluctuating in size depending on the day. Since the store is closed on Mondays, each Tuesday usually brings more than 100 people eagerly awaiting the store's sales, hoping to get the first and best new selection.
In the end, all the dedication - from volunteers and customers - goes a long way toward helping people in need.
Barbara McClure, executive director of one of the Goose's beneficiaries, Catalina Community Services, is thankful for the collaboration between the store and the charities.
"We're so fortunate to have such a supportive community," she said.
If you go
• What: The Golden Goose thrift store
• Where: 15970 N. Oracle Road
• Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
• Phone: 825-9101
Where the Goose's earnings go
Catalina Community Services:
• Food bank
• Clothing bank
• Senior nutrition program
• ESL classes
• Youth programs
SaddleBrooke Community Outreach:
• Kids closet
• Tutoring
• Scholarships
• Tri-Community Food Bank
• Summer enrichment programs
Source: Golden Goose
By the numbers
Nearly 500
No. of volunteers
3
No. of full-time paid employees
2
No. of part-time paid employees
12,000
Building size, in square feet
Source: The Golden Goose
Ashley Grove is a University of Arizona student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at 573-4117 or at starapprentice@azstarnet.com
