The Morgantown ReUzit Shoppe, where shoppers can find bargains on new and gently used merchandise, will celebrate its 25th anniversary from Monday, April 4, though, Saturday, April 9.

As part of the celebration, prizes will be awarded throughout the week for shoppers based on a random drawing, and all items in the store will be offered at a discount of 25% off. The event will culminate with the distribution of free ice cream cones, which will be available to those who present their proof of purchase on April 9 while supplies last.

The Morgantown ReUzit shop offers clothing, shoes, purses, housewares, toys, crafts, sewing items, fabric, books, lamps, accessories and more. There is also an area of the store dedicated to an ongoing silent auction. All proceeds benefit Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a Christian relief organization.

"We opened on April 7, 1997, in a stone building across (Route 23) from the Windmill," explained store manager Jen Leighton, noting that the original building is now a private residence. "We moved to this location - the original Conestoga Mennonite Church - in August of 2003."

The store was renovated in 2010 to include more sales space. "The back of the store is where we did processing, and we wanted to make that all sales floor," Leighton said. "Now, the whole downstairs - the whole length of the building - is for sorting and processing donations."

During the pandemic when the store was closed, the sales floor was reconfigured, and the checkout stand was relocated. "During the COVID shutdown, (we) moved things around so that when we reopened, we had more clear aisles and we could keep the 6-feet distance and our cashiers would be behind glass," Leighton said.

With the exception of the managers, the store is volunteer run. "We have 195 volunteers," Leighton said, noting that additional volunteers are always needed. "We need volunteers for sorting, processing and cashiering."

Donations are accepted during business hours, which are Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All donations of household goods and clothing are accepted with the exception of computers, televisions and large furniture pieces.

Leighton said that the store is well-liked by its customers. "People think it's very clean and organized. We don't sell anything that is broken or (dirty)," she said. "Women are (downstairs) washing dishes by hand. Most of our donors are really conscientious about giving clean and gently used items, which we really appreciate."

Leighton started as a volunteer before being named manager in September of 2021. "I loved being here (as a volunteer), and now I'm ... working with people who choose to be here. There is nothing like that. They are happy people, and it is contagious," she said.

The Morgantown ReUzit Shoppe is located at 2769 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown. For more information, call 610-286-7233, visit http://www.morgantownreuzit.org or http://www.instagram.com/morgantownreuzitshoppe or search for "Morgantown Reuzit Shoppe" on Facebook.