Having her son at a young age, Michelle Parker became a regular shopper of the Bethel Thrift store over 25 years ago. She relates to the families and children that the Bethel Thrift store strives to serve well. As the Store Manager, Michelle experiences the power of community at the thrift store every day. Michelle began working at the thrift store as a cashier.
Over the course of 18 years, she learned valuable skills and helped to enhance the processes in which the store received and sold donations. The mission of Bethel Bible Village is what encouraged Michelle to become a part of the ministry as a young mom looking for a job with purpose. “The kids are the reason I stayed so long. I love the Christian environment that I am in and also that the kids are a part of,” Michelle explained.
The thrift store team is a valuable part of fulfilling the mission that Michelle has for the thrift store; to bring in as many people as possible to support the programs that directly serve the kids. “I couldn’t do it without them,” Michelle said of her team. The thrift store also serves as a gateway to larger goals for some of the most recent Bethel Christian Academy graduates. “They do a really great job,” Michelle explained. “I always tell them to use this job as a learning experience.”
Michelle is proud of the growth in sales over the last year and continues to plan for improvements in 2025. “The goal is always to bring more and more people through the front door and more donations through the back door,” Michelle explained.
The Bethel Thrift store is open for shoppers Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. For donation drop off, people can bring items Tuesday – Saturday from 10:30 am – 4:00 pm. Michelle expressed that the largest items in need are clothes and furniture.