PORT HADLOCK — The newly remodeled Olympic Community Action Programs’ thrift store no longer suffers from an identity crisis.

The store at 10632 Rhody Drive, formerly known as Northwest Passage, has a new sign proclaiming it to be OlyCAP Thrift Shoppe.

That has already worked in the thrift store’s favor, plainly connecting it to the North Olympic Peninsula organization with a reputation for helping the needy since 1966, said Bonnie White, store co-director with Rita Houston.

“We needed to make it really clear to shoppers that it was an OlyCAP store,” White said, as she stood next to an aisle of used clothes.

“It’s been real amazing. People come in here and say, ‘I didn’t know it was an OlyCAP store, or I thought it was, but wasn’t sure.’ Now this can be a real face to the community.”

The store was remodeled with volunteer help this year and reopened its new interior design to shoppers on Oct. 21.

White and Houston plan to put a smaller sign out near the Rhody Drive street front saying, “OlyCAP, strengthening the community since 1966.”

The store grosses about $100,000 a year, White said. She hopes the new look will drive up profits.

“It helps support struggling programs like senior meals in Brinnon,” she said.

The store accepts donations of “gently used” clothing and furniture.

Special new features to the store include a walk-in cooler that was converted to a library, a former kitchen converted to showcase kitchenware, and a section catering to children’s clothes and toys.

A room was torn out to open up the furniture section, too.

Training offered

The store is more than just a place to shop, Houston said.

It also offers training in retailing and customer service, so that workers can step out into the retail world with experience.

“They are placed here up to six months,” Houston said of the trainees that are referred through the state Department of Social and Health Services.

White said those in the program also can learn supervision, marketing and light bookkeeping skills.

The co-directors work with the developmentally disabled through area high schools, as well as through Skookum, a contract services company for those with disabilities.

Helping to run the store are volunteers, such as Gloria Atkins, a retired nurse, who was joined by her mother, Agnes Hanke, as they set up a Christmas trinkets section on Tuesday.

“It’s such a wonderful organization,” Atkins said of OlyCAP. “I have always said it’s among those wonderful organizations that do a lot of work to help community members.”

The store has eight volunteers who are focused on a new project coming this spring: a pea-patch-style garden, in which participating growers can grow food for the food banks as well as for themselves.

“We’ll have a patio section outside,” said White, with garden furniture sold adjacent to the garden.

The shop is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information, phone the shop at 360-379-3648.

________

Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.