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Upscale Thrift Shop Welcome Home Thriftique Celebrates Grand Opening Oct. 8; Benefits Hospitality House

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Sept. 29, 2014. The Boone Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the official grand opening and ribbon cutting for Welcome Home Thriftique, an upscale thrift store project benefiting Hospitality House. The event will take place Friday, Oct. 3, 2014 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided and the ribbon cutting will be at 11:30 a.m.

Welcome Home Thriftique, a nonprofit retail shop with a purpose, has been open since July 25. All items sold in the store have been donated by the community and 100 percent of profits go to support the programs and services of Hospitality House. Merchandised items include art, furniture, antiques and collectibles, home goods, décor and name brand clothing, Welcome Home Thriftique always accepts donations when open. Job skills training and financial literacy classes will also be offered at the store for clients and community members.

“We are excited to become ‘official’” said Todd Carter, director of development for Hospitality House. “Our organization has been a long time member of the Boone Chamber and we are thrilled to present this new project and resource to the community.”

This three-year project is a collaboration of Hospitality House, Appalachian State University’s ACT (Appalachian and the Community Together) program and North Carolina Campus Compact. In August 2013, Brittany Johnson joined the Hospitality House team as a N.C. Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America).

The purpose of the Thriftique is to further connect Hospitality House to the community, as well as to implement another revenue stream of continuous funding to support the organization. However, what sets this store apart from others is that it provides clients of the Hospitality House an avenue in which it can build a foundation for a successful future and learn sustainable living habits. Clients will have the opportunity to develop and further their skills and experience in the work force with the job skills training, financial literacy and internship programs that are at the heart of this project.

Local artists and entrepreneurs have a unique opportunity to get involved and give back through Miss Trish’s Community Spotlight. Named in memory of volunteer and supporter Trish Burkhart, this component seeks local artists and entrepreneurs who are willing to donate a few items to be featured on a spotlight table for a month. The items will be advertised on social media and displayed on the sales floor! Participants will also have the opportunity sell their items every Saturday in front of the store.

“The Hospitality House mission is to serve the High Country community, specifically those impacted by poverty, by providing positive, supportive opportunities that teach skills and sustainability that will allow people to emerge from crisis, poverty and homelessness,” Johnson said. “I invite you everyone to come check out our store and learn about the purpose it serves for the organization as well as the community.”

Welcome Home Thriftique is located at 182 Boone Heights Drive. Store hours are Wednesday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. To learn more check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/welcomehomethriftique and follow them on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/Thriftique182 . For more information or to donate items, contact Brittany Johnson at Brittany@hosphouse.org.