An open rededication ceremony was held at The Community Thrift Store Tuesday afternoon in honor of the store’s recent renovation and 28 years of charitable work.
A new roof, seismically retrofitted, and storefront mural, by muralist Jet Martinez, were celebrated, as was Community Thrift’s charitable services. San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros and Empress of the Imperial Council Donna Sachet served as master and mistress of the ceremony, which took place during store hours and encourage shoppers to partake, while selected speakers expressed gratitude for the non-profit organization’s efforts.
“We decided to have a party to celebrate the changes and still being in business,” Steven Rascher, the San Francisco Tavern Guild Foundation board member president, said. According to Rascher, what “started as a garage sale” has since grown from its humble beginnings.
Founded in 1982 by the San Francisco Tavern Guild, the first gay business association in the United States, Community Thrift has always accepted donations to sell in the store and given the proceeds to a charity chosen by the donator. Rascher , a 19-year-Tavern Guild Foundation board member, said in the first year of business, Community Thrift made enough to give to eight charities, compared to the more than 200 “partners” to date.
“We didn’t realize how much money it was until we did the math for this,” Project Open Hand’s Director of Operations Don Schuman said. Project Open Hand partnered with Community Thrift 21 years ago and has received $320,00 from the organization.
Unable to function without a staff and volunteers, Tavern Guild Board Member John Carrillo praised the Community Thrift staff’s dedication. “They really take care of the space,” he said.
A community driven non-profit to support charities, Community Thrift Store is symbolic of the culture in the Mission District. Executive Director of San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Leah Shahum called the Mission “a special place, […] emblematic.” Shahum, a Community Thrift partner, also expressed appreciation for the store’s donations to her cause. “It’s what makes San Francisco so special.”
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You truly captured all the ways in which this one place, like so many others, is both a celebration of San Francisco's nature but also contributes to its openness, sharing and cultural diversity.
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