A stitch in time at the Thrift and Gift
An Orange staple since 1973, the Thrift and Gift Shop will celebrate its sixth anniversary at its present location Sept. 4.
The Thrift and Gift was originally opened on Fifth Street, near Green Avenue. Its purpose was to give seniors a way to make a little extra income, selling their arts and crafts. The store also became a gathering place for quilters who would spend hours hand stitching quilts to be sold or raffled.
The Fifth Street location shut its doors on March 31, 2003 and re-opened in its current location at 350 37th St. on Sept. 4, 2003.
Set up in the old Salk Elementary School, they have much more room and carry a larger inventory of items. They have taken five classrooms and combined them into one store full of merchandise.
You can find quilters there every Tuesday and Thursday. Currently they are working on a quilt that is white, with a blue cross stitched top. People can bring in quilt tops that have already been pieced together to have the group do the hand quilting. Three of the quilters, Evelyn Adams, Velma Couture and Mary Guillot have been members of the Thrift and Gift, hand stitching for over 20 years each. Rose Benoit has also been with the group for years, while Barbara Miles and Pat Klipstein joined the women at the new location.
“I’ve been here about three years. When I retired, I started quilting,” said Miles. She remembers watching her grandmother quilt when she was a little girl and wondered what she was doing. “I made a little quilt when I was 16. [My grandmother] gave me the pattern. I’ve still got it,” she said.
They are always looking for experienced quilters to join them. Those wanting to learn the craft are welcome as well.
