SEQUIM — The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild is putting out a call for volunteers for its thrift shop on Second Avenue and Bell Street.
“We usually have a membership of 100 to 110 volunteers in our guild, but in the last year, it has drastically declined” to a membership of 76 ladies, said Addie Curtis, guild publicity chairwoman.
“We are trying very hard to man the thrift shop which generates all our profits but it has reached ‘desperation status,’” she said in an email.
The shop is now open five days a week and one Saturday each month.
“We may be forced soon to close one day a week to survive,” Curtis added.
Since it opened in the mid-1970s, the shop has raised more than $1,850,000, she said.
That money has been returned to Clallam County in the form of gifts or services to Clallam County Fire District No. 3, Olympic Medical Center, Dungeness Health & Wellness Clinic and scholarship assistance, Curtis said.
Also, more than 17 people have received assistance in obtaining paramedic certification.
Volunteers each work two shifts a month at the shop. Each shift is three hours, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and volunteers decide what days they can work.
It takes 10 volunteers to staff the shop for one day, with five people working each shift.
“Some of our dedicated volunteers are working many hours over the required two shifts a month just to keep things going,” Curtis said.
The shop sells donations from the public and is also a consignment shop.
The shop takes 30 percent of the sale item for consignments.
For more information about volunteering or consigning, phone 360-683-7044 or stop by the shop and pick up a membership form.
“We will welcome you with open arms,” Curtis said.