Page 5 - RR-1-15-26

Thursday, January 15, 2026 • • 5
Hearts for the Homeless expands thrift store to offer clothing closet

By Amber Healy tagged in the store is already avail- today and said ‘Hey, we want you
or more than three decades, able to the general public at 50% here, you’re valuable.’”
Hearts for the Homeless has off with our tag, but it’s also allow- Hearts for the Homeless is also
Foperated a thrift store on ing for dignity to exist and remain working with its partner organiza-
Tonawanda Street, offering neigh- here on campus so that the folks tions to make sure anyone in need
bors and deal seekers alike a thrifty who are coming to us because across Western New York who
option for quality clothes and they’re in need of clothing are wel- might be working with other ser-
household needs. comed,” Jeff says. vice agencies are aware of the new
However, for some people It’s a “simple check-in pro- clothing closet and its offerings. If
who’ve come to rely on the store, cess,” where people are welcomed a new client comes to Hearts for the
the deep discounts might still keep to share their story if they want but Homeless for clothing based on a
clothing just out of financial reach. are not obligated to, she adds, be- referral from another organization,
Introducing a solution: as of last fore the customer starts shopping. they can skip the intake process
week, people in need of clothes can The clothing closet builds on altogether because their informa-
come in, meet with a Hearts volun- the organization’s mission of being tion will already be available, Jeff
teer and bring home clothes for their welcoming and of service to any- says.
household for free. one in the community that needs The new clothing closet oper-
“This is a new program for us, assistance, an additional program ates during the thrift store’s regular
the first time we’ve ever done this, on top of the food assistance pro- hours, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sat-
period, in our history, let alone in grams and other thrift stores urdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Riverside,” says Kelsey Jeff, chief throughout Western New York. For More information can be found at
of staff and a spokesperson for the the time being, the Riverside store https://heartsforthehomeless.org/cl
organization. “We have the thrift is the only one with the clothing othing-closet/.
store here on Tonawanda Street on closet, but people from across the
the corner of Riverside Avenue and area are welcome to use the closet
this has been here since the late as needed, Jeff says.
‘90s. We’ve been here, serving the “We’re really big in general
community, but (the store has) been about relationship building. We
viewed, internally, as a way to gen- don’t just want to give you what
erate revenue for our feeding pro- you need, we’re going to give you
grams, like our food pantries, our the connection too. Relationships
soup kitchen. But it’s also meeting are so important when you’re going
this need, there’s nothing around
community needs. They’re already family at a discount, but people through it. So many of us will iso-
here in the realm of clothing stores coming to our campus for the food late or not want to deal with people
for the folks who live here.” who need additional help can talk
pantry and for the redemption cen- with a volunteer, set up at a desk in because you don’t want to explain
During the last year, when the ter and other programs we have yourself. We get that. We just want
economy became a little tougher the rear of the store, have a brief
here on site; maybe we need to shift discussion about their needs and to hang out, we want to be your
and people were having to pick this into a clothing closet so that friend. We want to make sure
which bills to pay and which needs then shop the store. The goal is to
people don’t have to figure out have a seamless experience for all somebody looked you in the eye
to be addressed, that the idea came
what the situation is or what the shoppers, regardless of their ability
to the board to try something differ-
next step is, they can just come in.” to pay.
ent.
Jeff and Nicholas Calandra, the “We have such great relation-
“We’ve been noticing, in our
CEO and president of Hearts for ships with folks here and they want
thrift store, that folks are (saying) ‘I
the Homeless, drew up a proposal to be involved in the organization,
know it’s 50% off, which is awe-
and the board approved. The thrift so it’s the clothing closet and the
some, but I still can’t afford it and I
store briefly closed at the end of discount clothing store. Everything
need something for my kids. Can I
December to provide time for the
just take it?,’ and we weren’t antici-
transition to take place.
pating that,” Jeff says. “How do you
People who come in looking for
tell someone no? This is more than Froth closing
deals can still shop the racks and
just a one-off. This is something the
find clothes for all members of the Military Road site
Froth Brewing Company at
700 Military Road announced on
social media that it would close its
taproom Sunday, Feb. 1. Froth was
known for its fruity and tart sour
beers as well as smoothie-style
beers. Froth's products will still be
available at local beer stores.

Coupon Expires 1/31/26