HRC Ministries thrift store works to assist sex-trafficking victims in Spokane area

HRC Ministries recently opened a new thrift store in Spokane Valley to help raise money for the ministry’s programs, including one that assists sex-trafficking victims.

“We support the whole ministry itself,” said thrift store manager Beth Molina.

The store at 14415 E. Sprague Ave. replaced a smaller shop called Repeat Boutique that was located in a more obscure location just down the street.

“We outgrew that, so we rebranded to a thrift store,” Molina said. “We were really tucked away. It was super small. We only had women’s clothing, no kids’.”

The thrift store has been doing well since it opened in December, Molina said. The busiest shopping days tend to be Fridays and Saturdays.

“It’s been really good,” she said. “We’re visible, and we carry more stuff now.”

The thrift store occupies about half of a 10,000 square foot building that also houses their warehouse for their food ministry program. The floor space has been put to good use, full of everything from shoes to books to furniture to clothes. The space is full, but not uncomfortably so. The staff has made it a point to make attractive displays throughout the store to showcase available items.

There are even several antiques for sale, including an old student desk that wouldn’t have been out of place in a one-room schoolhouse 100 years ago. There are hidden gems to be found, including a 1905 edition of the classic Jack London novel “White Fang” and a 1920 edition of “The Age of Innocence” by Edith Wharton.

“Everything is donated,” Molina said. “We don’t purchase anything.”

The items the store sells are in good condition, Molina said. “We’re pretty particular about what we put out,” Molina said. “Our donors usually donate really good quality things.”

There are also plenty of lamps, decorative pillows, dishes and many other items. “We have a lot of décor, any of your housewares,” she said. “We have all your clothing, from women to men’s to kids. We kind of have a little bit of everything.”

What the store has available frequently changes because of what is donated. Molina said she never knows what donations might come in the door.

“It is fun,” she said. “It’s like a treasure hunt every day when you’re putting stuff out.”

Most things in the store have low prices. The most expensive items are usually the furniture, Molina said. The store currently has an array of couches, tables, chairs, desks and dressers. “It kind of depends on the make and model and what kind of condition it’s in,” she said.

The key program the thrift store is intended to support is the sex-trafficking ministry. Right now HRC Ministries is focused on providing short-term housing and relocation services to victims and helping them get connected to long-term recovery programs, said HRC Ministries founder Caleb Altmeyer.

Altmeyer said he’s working to develop a long-term recovery program here that will include safe houses, life skills training, job training and help transitioning to independent living.

“The long-term program we’re launching Sept. 15,” he said.

He’s working on partnerships with coffee houses and other local business to provide job training to the women in the sex-trafficking program, Altmeyer said. The women would also have the option of working at the thrift store to develop their work skills if they want to, he said.

The thrift store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Donations for the store will be accepted during the same hours.