Obadiah Thrift Store Opens In North WebsterNORTH WEBSTER - A new thrift store has opened in North Webster to serve those who are looking to purchase affordable items in hard economic times.
Linette Manwaring opened Obadiah "Servant of the Lord" Thrift Store April 3 in North Webster.
The business is at 127 S. Main St. on the lower level of Pilcher's Shoes. Thousands of clearance shoes sold by Pilcher's used to be housed in the room where the thrift store now is located. The shoes were purchased by a Milford church and shipped to children in Romania, and space became available for the thrift store, Manwaring said.Manwaring attends Vineyard Church, Syracuse, where she met Bob and Dianne Pilcher, Pilcher's Shoes owners.
Bob said he was glad to make use of the space for the thrift store and hopes it will help the community.
The couple allowed Manwaring to have two giveaways in June and November at the store before it opened.
Items were collected from the community. Those in need received free clothing, household items and furniture.
The thrift store sells and accepts gently used men's, women's and children's clothing donations, shoes, coats, household items, electronics, furniture and books.
Proceeds raised cover the thrift store's administration fees. After the fees are paid for administration costs, funds are donated to Vineyard Church's ministry for single mothers and the North Webster Food Pantry.
Besides a shopping experience, the business has a prayer box where customers can drop their prayer requests in.
Manwaring will pray with the customer, and prays every Saturday for the prayer requests. A community prayer group also prays for the requests.
A message that reads "In Jesus' Name Our Messiah" is painted on a wall behind the checkout counter.
"I didn't open the store because of the economy, but because the Lord laid it on my heart to open it," Manwaring said.
In May she had cysts removed and an ulcerated colon. She said she recovered and the Lord called her to serve others, so she opened the thrift store.
She said the community and local businesses have been supportive of the thrift store.
Manwaring said she came up with the name for the store when she was reading the Bible. Obadiah is a book in the Old Testament, and he was a prophet with a burden on his heart to minister to a town that was living in sin.
"The name seemed so appropriate because I had a burden on my heart to minister to others," Manwaring said.
Manwaring said her husband built shelves and installed clothing rods to hang clothing in the thrift store.
She said the store is currently in need of summer clothes donations and baby items.
The store accepts cash only.
Store hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donation drop offs are accepted Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call the business at 574-834-2158.
