The Weekend Food Program provides meals and snacks to almost 500 South Santa Rosa children every weekend of the school year. These students, who qualify for free and reduced school lunches, can now be fed and know where their next meal is coming from.
This ministry is funded by the proceeds of Good Neighbor Thrift Store. The program also provides hygiene bags for the students twice during the school year.
Looking for some unique finds, affordable clothes or holiday decorations? Come shop at Good Neighbor Thrift Store.
And what is the best part of shopping here? Proceeds of the store go back into ministry and directly help the people of Navarre.
They are open, both for shopping and accepting donations, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Any time their front doors are open for shopping, their side doors are also open accepting donations. Simply drive up to the right side of the building and someone will meet you to help accept your boxes or bags of donations. If you would like, you can receive a receipt for charitable giving for tax purposes.
Donations left outside before and after hours WILL NOT be accepted.
“We can only accept items when we are open,” Manager Laura Beth Snow said. “Anything left outside can get damaged or wet and become unsellable. We want to sell quality items that are in good condition.”
Good Neighbor Thrift Store, We Care Ministries and the Lindy Bush Food Pantry are all ministries of the Navarre United Methodist Church.
Snow is very thankful for the numerous volunteers who dedicate their time to helping the mission of Good Neighbor Thrift Store.
“Most volunteers have a sort of niche, an area they love working in,” Snow said.
She is also blessed to have her assistant managers Candace Anderson and Cuyler Jones as part of the Good Neighbor team.
“Candace and Cuyler are a key part of our process and our success,” Snow added.
The volunteers love the atmosphere at Good Neighbor.
“It’s awesome – I love it here. This place is my home away from home,” said Becky Adams, who has been volunteering for three years now in the linens department. “We do so much good here, and it warms your heart when you’re able to help those in need. You put a smile on their face. Especially with We Care Ministries and paying people’s rent or electric bill when they’re not able to themselves.”
Arlene Dolphin, who volunteers both at Good Neighbor and Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, said that when the thrift store has a surplus of linens, they will donate the extra ones to the wildlife refuge to use in cages for the animals in rehabilitation. The pillow cases are used for birds, and the sheets are used for possums as a place to gather. The fleece blankets are used for the baby animals to keep them warm.
Every Friday, Good Neighbor Thrift Store has huge discounts on all clothing. They sell between 700-900 pieces of clothing every Friday. “That’s how we keep the clothing turned over and our inventory fresh every day,” Snow said.
Their inventory is vast, ranging from furniture and household goods to books, board games and handbags.
“We take pride in our merchandise being clean and functional,” Snow said. “We test things to ensure everything is working.”
Good Neighbor constantly has sales going on. The type of sale depends on the availability of volunteers, inventory and what they have a lot of each week.
“Every day that the store is open, we have something half-priced or a buy-one get-one- free special,” Snow said.
Make sure to stay tuned to their Facebook page for upcoming sales and special events.
The greeter will tell you the Good Neighbor Deal of the Day when you walk-in the doors.
On top of the frequent sales, Good Neighbor offers 10% off to all military servicemen and women.
Anytime the thrift store is open, volunteers accept donations on the side door of the building. Good Neighbor has a finite amount of space, so furniture is accepted as space allows.
Good Neighbor Thrift Store
9025 Navarre Parkway
Store/Donation Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(850) 515-0109