(May 12, 2016) For five decades, the Church Mouse Thrift Shop in Berlin has supported local nonprofits with hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations, along with providing clothing and other household items to countless people during their times of need.
An extension of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the store was originally located in one of the apartments attached to the Jefferson Street addition of Atlantic Hotel.
When the Atlantic underwent extensive renovations during the early 1980s, the Church Mouse moved into a warehouse space on Old Ocean City Boulevard with dirt floors and a small pot-bellied stove for heat. A few years later it landed at 101 Main Street, where it remains today.
Violet Matthews, also known as “Miss Vi,” along with Annabelle Hastings and Ruth Neville, were among the first workers there. Matthews continued volunteering at the shop until she was 100 years old, while Hastings remained well into her 90s.
When she finally retired, almost 10 years ago, Helen Wiley took over and continued the good work of those who came before her. For a small, unassuming thrift store, the Church Mouse has had an enormous impact on the town.
In preparation for the 50th birthday, Wiley has collected anecdotes from those who remember its humble beginnings.
Mary Hall, a current volunteer, recalls buying a navy blue miniskirt there during the 1970s. Her mother, Mary Weatherhouse, was among the early helpers.
Debbie Cook, whose daughter, Emily Cook Vocke, owns and operates Heart of Gold on Main Street, remembers buying a pair of OshKosh jeans for her young son when the shop was still part of the hotel.
“She said many times she picked up things for the kids there, because it was something that was affordable. Lots of local folks have benefited from Church Mouse,” Wiley said.
Wiley uncovered a newspaper article from 1984 that interviewed Matthews and Hastings.
“At that point they said they had been working there for about 15 years, and they always ended up working past [normal hours],” she said. “They said sometimes they came home and would just feel so exhausted, but then they remembered, ‘today we completely clothed the baby of a gentleman who was just incarcerated.’ That made them feel good, because they knew they made a difference in somebody’s life.
“The two of them worked very tirelessly and they were always wanting to help people that were in need and couldn’t afford things,” Wiley added.
Early nicknames included “Little Hecht Company” and “Fashion Shop.” Local merchants donated many of the items sold in the store, which range from clothes and kitchenware, to jewelry, books and toys and games for children. Donations made to St. Paul’s also contribute to the stock.
Today, the staff includes about a dozen volunteers, who operate the store from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
One of the biggest changes that Wiley initiated was the 2nd Friday outreach. While most in downtown Berlin feature local artists during the monthly art stroll, the Church Mouse uses the event to highlight a different nonprofit, donating all of the proceeds for the day.
“It didn’t seem like the Church Mouse really had room to have an artist, so I tried to think about what I could do to bring attention to some of these organizations we work with and gives people some awareness of what they do,” Wiley said. “We decided to highlight them and let them participate and be a part of the town.”
Other funds generated at the store are regularly earmarked for charitable endeavors, including local food pantries, Meals on the Wheels, Operation We Care and Believe in Tomorrow House by the Sea.
Church Mouse participates in town events, buys gifts for local families during the holidays and donates to the Berlin Youth Club.
“We’re on alert,” Wiley said. “If we find that there’s someone who’s had a fire or some kind of tragedy and they need help, we’ll look out for them. It was all about helping people to have a place to live, have food, have clothing and help then enhance their lives.”
On May 26 at 5 p.m. the shop, along with the town and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, will host a celebration of 50 years of charity and community involvement.
The Rev. Michael D. Moyer, the rector at St. Paul’s, will bless the storefront. Afterwards, the town will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony, and a reception will be held at the “Ray” room at Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services.
The Worcester County Developmental Center from Newark will cater that event.
“We thought this was a great way to employ them, who are one of the folks we’ve always helped out with donations,” Wiley said.
While her predecessors worked well into their 90s, Wiley, 65, still has a long way to go. It’s a challenge she says she is looking forward to.
“I’m going to work at it for as long as I can,” she said. “I have such admiration for them and the energy that it takes to run that shop. To get the donations and organize things and make sure people are getting what they need – there’s a lot involved, but, in the end, when you go home and put your head down on the bed you feel pretty good.
“They planted the seed – I’m just helping to water it,” Wiley added. “They established what the goal and what the mission was – I just try to keep that going and expand on it.”
For more information, or to donate to the Church Mouse, call 410-641-4385, email helenbuttercup@verizon.net or visit www.churchmousethriftshop.com.
An extension of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the store was originally located in one of the apartments attached to the Jefferson Street addition of Atlantic Hotel.
When the Atlantic underwent extensive renovations during the early 1980s, the Church Mouse moved into a warehouse space on Old Ocean City Boulevard with dirt floors and a small pot-bellied stove for heat. A few years later it landed at 101 Main Street, where it remains today.
Violet Matthews, also known as “Miss Vi,” along with Annabelle Hastings and Ruth Neville, were among the first workers there. Matthews continued volunteering at the shop until she was 100 years old, while Hastings remained well into her 90s.
When she finally retired, almost 10 years ago, Helen Wiley took over and continued the good work of those who came before her. For a small, unassuming thrift store, the Church Mouse has had an enormous impact on the town.
In preparation for the 50th birthday, Wiley has collected anecdotes from those who remember its humble beginnings.
Mary Hall, a current volunteer, recalls buying a navy blue miniskirt there during the 1970s. Her mother, Mary Weatherhouse, was among the early helpers.
Debbie Cook, whose daughter, Emily Cook Vocke, owns and operates Heart of Gold on Main Street, remembers buying a pair of OshKosh jeans for her young son when the shop was still part of the hotel.
“She said many times she picked up things for the kids there, because it was something that was affordable. Lots of local folks have benefited from Church Mouse,” Wiley said.
Wiley uncovered a newspaper article from 1984 that interviewed Matthews and Hastings.
“At that point they said they had been working there for about 15 years, and they always ended up working past [normal hours],” she said. “They said sometimes they came home and would just feel so exhausted, but then they remembered, ‘today we completely clothed the baby of a gentleman who was just incarcerated.’ That made them feel good, because they knew they made a difference in somebody’s life.
“The two of them worked very tirelessly and they were always wanting to help people that were in need and couldn’t afford things,” Wiley added.
Early nicknames included “Little Hecht Company” and “Fashion Shop.” Local merchants donated many of the items sold in the store, which range from clothes and kitchenware, to jewelry, books and toys and games for children. Donations made to St. Paul’s also contribute to the stock.
Today, the staff includes about a dozen volunteers, who operate the store from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
One of the biggest changes that Wiley initiated was the 2nd Friday outreach. While most in downtown Berlin feature local artists during the monthly art stroll, the Church Mouse uses the event to highlight a different nonprofit, donating all of the proceeds for the day.
“It didn’t seem like the Church Mouse really had room to have an artist, so I tried to think about what I could do to bring attention to some of these organizations we work with and gives people some awareness of what they do,” Wiley said. “We decided to highlight them and let them participate and be a part of the town.”
Other funds generated at the store are regularly earmarked for charitable endeavors, including local food pantries, Meals on the Wheels, Operation We Care and Believe in Tomorrow House by the Sea.
Church Mouse participates in town events, buys gifts for local families during the holidays and donates to the Berlin Youth Club.
“We’re on alert,” Wiley said. “If we find that there’s someone who’s had a fire or some kind of tragedy and they need help, we’ll look out for them. It was all about helping people to have a place to live, have food, have clothing and help then enhance their lives.”
On May 26 at 5 p.m. the shop, along with the town and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, will host a celebration of 50 years of charity and community involvement.
The Rev. Michael D. Moyer, the rector at St. Paul’s, will bless the storefront. Afterwards, the town will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony, and a reception will be held at the “Ray” room at Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services.
The Worcester County Developmental Center from Newark will cater that event.
“We thought this was a great way to employ them, who are one of the folks we’ve always helped out with donations,” Wiley said.
While her predecessors worked well into their 90s, Wiley, 65, still has a long way to go. It’s a challenge she says she is looking forward to.
“I’m going to work at it for as long as I can,” she said. “I have such admiration for them and the energy that it takes to run that shop. To get the donations and organize things and make sure people are getting what they need – there’s a lot involved, but, in the end, when you go home and put your head down on the bed you feel pretty good.
“They planted the seed – I’m just helping to water it,” Wiley added. “They established what the goal and what the mission was – I just try to keep that going and expand on it.”
For more information, or to donate to the Church Mouse, call 410-641-4385, email helenbuttercup@verizon.net or visit www.churchmousethriftshop.com.