Durand News

Durand Thrift Store and Woodbury HS Join Forces For Community

January, 2010—Woodbury, NJ—Students from Woodbury High School will be helping to lend their support in design and merchandising of the Durand Thrift Store through the school’s Option II program, which allows students to earn high school credit for learning experiences outside of the classroom, including community service.

In addition to providing inexpensive clothing and household goods to Woodbury and the larger community, the non-profit Durand Thrift Store, open since October 2009, helps employ adults with special needs, ranging from Downs Syndrome to Autism. These adults help sort through donations, unpack boxes and assist in donation pick-ups. The store is managed by personnel with Durand Academy & Community Services, an organization serving special needs children and adults throughout South Jersey since 1972. The Thrift Store is located at 549 Evergreen Avenue in the Evergreen Square Shopping Center.

Woodbury High School seniors and national honor society students, Megan Downey, Ashleigh Pollitt, and Chloe Berger, volunteered to assist with window decorating, in-store displays and design of the Thrift Store. Option II is part of the academic and professional standards from the NJ Department of Education, which serves as an alternative to traditional high school courses and involves in-depth experiences that may be provided by school district personnel or instructors not employed by the school district.

Kathy Stalter-Allen, the high school’s Option II Coordinator, said, “we are thrilled to have the opportunity to provide several of our students with merchandising and store design experience, while supporting a non-profit organization that does so much good for the community.” The participating students are all college bound and excel academically and in their extra-curricular activities. Pollitt is class president and won second place in last year’s talent show. Downey is the National Honor Society vice-president and co-president of the school dance club with Pollitt. According to Stalter-Allen, “all three students also show a flair for design.” Pollitt who dreams of opening her own clothing store or dance studio one day, said she “loves helping the community.” Downey, who would like to be a speech and language pathologist, is “excited to do something new and be of help.” Pollitt added that she’s “looking forward to letting her creativity shine.” Berger is an accomplished musician and band member and is eager to provide some “extra sparkle” to the Thrift Store.

According to Susan Sedlack Durand’s Thrift Store Director, “this is a wonderful partnership with Woodbury High School. The students are providing us with an invaluable service. We’re ecstatic to have their creativity, enthusiasm and support in helping us present a vibrant, store appearance.”

“This is truly a win-win for the high school students, Thrift Store and the larger community,” added Stalter-Allen

The Durand Thrift Store operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 PM.  Donations are always accepted and pick-up of items can be arranged by calling 856-845-8913 or emailing: s.sedlack@durandac.org.
Volunteers are always welcome in assisting with daily operations of the shop, contact Rosemary Smith at 856-235-3540 or emailing: r.smith@durandac.org.

The non-profit Durand Academy and Community Services has been devoted to serving children and adults with special needs and their families throughout South Jersey since 1972. They have a K-8 school, Durand Academy, in Woodbury near the Thrift Store, group homes throughout South Jersey, in addition to the vocational day program. They also offer respite services for families, workshops for parents and more. For further information, logon to www.durandac.org or call 856-235-3540.