WINDSOR – “If we all share what we have, we’ll all have enough.”

The Opportunity Shoppe in downtown Windsor (124 East Granville St.) believes that a strong community is built upon a foundation of helping those less fortunate.

With that in mind, volunteers have received donations of clothing and house wares and, in turn, sold those items in a thrift store from where the proceeds are distributed to qualified non-profit agencies in the form of grant funding. The amount of available grant funding hinges on the profits produced by the Shoppe from the previous year.

The Shoppe is an outreach of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Windsor. It operates as a non-profit entity, donating all monies earned in excess of its operating expenses to other non-profit agencies that work to improve the quality of life for people in need.

Items that are usable, but not sellable, are either offered for free or donated to other charities/service providers. Some of the entities benefiting from the Opportunity Shoppe have included the Episcopal Farm Ministry in Newton Grove (to assist migrant workers), the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Bertie County Council on Aging, Windsor Volunteer Fire Department, Missions of Hope indigents in nursing homes, Project Uplift, Lawrence Memorial Library, after school programs, The Hive (Bertie County Resource Center) and Historic Hope Plantation.

The Shoppe also offers “Bargain Bucks” – available to churches or non-profit organizations for use by their parishioners/clients in emergency situations. The “bucks” spend like regular money, allowing the customers to have a choice that fills their needs.

In operation since 2009, the Shoppe is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday; and 12 noon until 4 p.m. on Friday. These days and hours of operation are effective March 6.

Grant applications and guidelines can be picked-up at the Shoppe during the aforementioned days and operating hours. The application deadline is April 15. Applications can be mailed to The Opportunity Shoppe, PO Box 135, Windsor, NC 27983.

For more information about the grants, to donate items for sale, or to serve as a volunteer for this organization, call 252-794-5595 during regular business hours.