Everything from artwork and jewelry to furniture and household goods can be found at Tel Hai Retirement Community's Resale Shop, an on-campus thrift store that provides quality gently used items at reasonable prices. Proceeds from the Resale Shop benefit the Care Assurance Fund, which provides financial support to Tel Hai residents in need.

The Resale Shop, located on the lower level of the Hertzler Apartment building, is generally open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Friday of each month. Upcoming dates of operation include Fridays, Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 18, April 22 and May 20. Appointments to shop are also available upon request by contacting Alicia Guthrie, director of development, at aguthrie@telhai.org or 610-273-9333, ext. 2036.

According to Jolene Weaver, Tel Hai director of communications, all items in the store are donated by Tel Hai residents and the community. "The items are donated from the general public and our residents who are downsizing or rightsizing," she explained. "We also have future residents who are moving in and want to (donate items) prior to moving." She added that families of Tel Hai residents who have passed away also donate items to the shop.

The store is operated by an all-volunteer resale shop committee comprising approximately 25 volunteers. "We are open for donations on Mondays, and during that time, we have a crew of volunteers that accepts the donations, unpacks them, prices them and shelves them," said Guthrie. "We have a dedicated group of volunteers. In 2018, they won (Tel Hai's) Volunteer of the Year award."

Since items sold at the store are all donated, all profits go to the Care Assurance Fund. "Our benevolent fund is there to help residents who have outlived their financial resources. It helps cover the cost of their services should they run out of money," said Guthrie, noting that a resale shop has operated at Tel Hai since 1997. "It has contributed over a half million dollars to the fund to date. Prior to the pandemic, we had a record year of (earning) $48,000 in 2019. We are slowly getting back to that. The volunteers take pride in what we raise. They are responsible for that (money) going into the care fund."

Guthrie said the store is beneficial to Tel Hai residents, the community and the volunteers. "We are a service to our residents because they want their stuff to find a good home. We are a service to the community because (the shop offers) low-priced household items," said Guthrie. "It serves a need to our volunteers. It gives them something fulfilling to do with their time."

"It is a meaningful and purposeful (volunteer opportunity)," Weaver added.

Tel Hai Retirement Community is located at 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook. Donations to the Resale Shop are accepted every Monday from 10 a.m. to noon, excluding holidays. For more information and a complete list of accepted items, visit http://www.telhai.org/resale-shop.