NORRISTOWN, PA, August 28, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Philadelphia-area bargain hunters have a new stop on their "must-visit" list of area thrift stores: Impact Thrift's spacious new Norristown storefront, which opened Aug. 6 at 1700 Markley Street. At 33,000 square feet, the new store is more than 50 percent larger than its previous Norristown store, which will be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the former Logan Square shopping center.
"We are thrilled to be able to better serve the people of the Norristown area through this beautiful new store," said Thomas Tillett, Chairman of the Board of Impact Thrift. "Impact Thrift stores create jobs, generate tax revenue, raise money to fund local charities, encourage recycling, and offer a dignified shopping experience for all. We are so proud to be a part of this redevelopment project in Norristown and look forward to many wonderful years here in our new location."
The new Norristown store is an important element in Impact Thrift's three-year development plan, which aims to increase the number of lives it is able to touch from 700,000 to 1 million by 2018 by relocating the Norristown store, opening two additional stores, and doubling its financial support to local charities.
"We are so thankful to all of our partners in the community who helped us reach this important milestone," said Gray Wirth, President and CEO of Impact Thrift Stores. "Many people in our region struggle daily to meet basic humanitarian needs, but together, we can increase our support of the nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry, house the homeless, and help children to reach their full potential."
A Grand Reopening celebration held on Aug. 6 attracted more than 2,000 shoppers and supporters to check out the new store. Festivities included prizes, refreshments, entertainment and merchandise discounts, and Norristown partner charities ACLAMO Family Centers and the Montgomery County Opportunities Industrialization Center received 10 percent of the day's net proceeds.
The Norristown store now is the second largest of Impact Thrift's five retail stores; the others are in Bristol and Feasterville in Bucks County and Hatboro and Montgomeryville in Montgomery County.
Fueled by nearly 250 employees, more than 900 dedicated volunteers, and thousands of people who donate tons of household goods and clothing, the Impact Thrift ecosystem positively impacts local communities in many ways. Donating items to Impact Thrift supports recycling efforts, diverting usable items that otherwise would end up in landfills, and enables the organization to offer a dignified shopping experience to all by providing access to affordable clothing, furniture and household goods.
Impact Thrift creates meaningful career and volunteer opportunities by hiring those with special needs and by offering second-chance employment to individuals whose past choices have made it difficult to find a job. It also welcomes teens and adults who must complete mandatory community service hours.
Net proceeds raised through Impact Thrift's operations financially support 15 locally based charities. Since 2001, Impact Thrift has given its partner charities more than $2 million.
About Impact Thrift: Based in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, Impact Thrift is a nonprofit dedicated to financially supporting local charities that work to feed the hungry, house the homeless and support children and families in need. It fulfills that mission by accepting donations of new and gently used clothing, household items and more and selling them in thrift stores in Bristol and Feasterville, Bucks County, and in Hatboro, Montgomeryville and Norristown, Montgomery County. Net proceeds support locally based nonprofits that deliver social services, allowing them to spend less time fundraising and more time helping families in need in the greater Philadelphia region. To learn more, visit impactthrift.org or connect with us on Facebook.
To find out how you can financially support Impact Thrift's work, visit http://www.increaseourimpact.org.
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