The Tioga County Open Door Mission, located at 425 North Ave. in Owego, N.Y., recently made a number of positive improvements inside its thrift store, including new lighting, shelving units and fresh painted walls. Proceeds from thrift store sales supports its homeless shelter and outreach programs. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
The Tioga County Open Door Mission, located at 425 North Ave. in Owego, N.Y., recently made a number of positive improvements inside its thrift store, including new lighting, shelving units and fresh painted walls. Proceeds from thrift store sales supports its homeless shelter and outreach programs.
The Tioga County Open Door Mission, located at 425 North Ave. in Owego, N.Y., provides multiple services, including a homeless shelter, food pantries, and A.A. meetings, and other outreach programs. Along with the Red Door, located at 359 Broad Street in Waverly, N.Y., the Mission has expanded its services since it first came to Tioga County in 1968. The largest food pantry in Tioga County, the Mission is an umbrella organization for ten other pantries in the county.
The Tioga County Open Door Mission, located at 425 North Ave. in Owego, N.Y., recently made a number of positive improvements inside its thrift store and also expanded its services by opening two new food pantries in Waverly and Lockwood, N.Y.
A faith based organization since 1968, the Open Door Mission and The Red Door provide support via clothing, food and other financial assistance to the working poor of Tioga County.
A 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, the Open Door Mission and The Red Door supports its homeless shelter and all of its outreach programs through proceeds from its two thrift stores, grants and other private donations.
Open Door Mission Assistant Director, Donna Jantz, involved with the mission for over 25 years, is passionate about helping others. Jantz explained that changes inside the thrift store include the installation of new lighting, the addition of several sections of shelving, and fresh painted walls. Customers will be pleased that items for sale are better categorized and easy-to-find.
Jantz shared, “I hope the changes will bring shoppers back who haven’t been to the thrift store in a while, and also encourage others who have never been to the Mission to stop in for the first time.”
Jantz explained that all families can benefit from the savings realized by shopping at the Mission.
From brand name clothing like designer-label jeans, to books, kitchen and household items, bedding and linens, furniture, music, shoes, clothing for children and adults and bridal dresses and accessories, the Open Door Mission is a win-win. The Mission offers reasonable prices, and in turn proceeds go back into supporting multiple services to help community members in need.
Executive Director, Mary Sobol, explained that the Mission is not only a thrift store. “We want to remind the community about all of the services we provide, such as the shelter, food pantries and A.A. meetings.”
Just one of many efforts to help others, Sobol makes lunch every day for the Mission volunteers, staff, and homeless residents, where everyone sits together like a family.
Darin Welch, who has worked at the Mission for over nine years, is the outreach coordinator and ensures every client receives the help they need.
The Red Door thrift store, located at 359 Broad Street in Waverly, N.Y. offers unique collectibles and antiques for sale, vintage gifts, books, artwork, pottery, clothing, shoes and jewelry, among other items. The Red Door also houses a Café’, where customers can relax with friends while enjoying coffee, and on Friday evenings, there is an open mic night featuring live entertainment and a chance to perform, which is promoted as a healthy alternative to the bar scene.
Last year marked the one-year anniversary of a food pantry that opened in Lockwood, N.Y., inside the Lockwood United Methodist Church located at 95 Church St. The pantry is open each Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A senior food pantry was opened in Waverly, N.Y. for individuals aged 60 or older and is open on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. behind the Red Door thrift store. The largest food pantry in Tioga County, the Mission is an umbrella organization for ten other pantries in the county.
The Open Door Mission accepts clothing and household items, scrap metal for recycle, and food and monetary donations. To learn more about the Open Door Mission and the Red Door, find them on Facebook, or visit opendoormissionandthereddoor.weebly.com. To contact the Mission, call (607) 687-1121. Mission hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. To contact the Red Door, call (607) 249-6062. Red Door hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
