Rosanne Cox began volunteering for DBCC’s resale shop, Great Stuff, simply because she supported the cause, but when she was diagnosed with breast cancer six months later, it was she who found support.
“I felt so fortunate to have this group of women around me. They are the most caring bunch,” Cox says. “I don’t have any sisters of my own, but this group feels like they’re my sisters.”
The Great Stuff resale shop was envisioned as a way to raise funds for DBCC, and it has—$40,000 in profit in the first eight months—but as Cox can attest, it has done so much more.
“We’ve had women who’ve had a recurrence of breast cancer come in asking for advice, and we’ve been able to connect them with DBCC for peer mentoring or for help in finding financial assistance to pay for medical care,” says shop manager Dale Maahs.
Other customers want to talk about how they have been affected by breast cancer through a mother, sister or friend. For others, donating to or shopping at Great Stuff is a gratifying way to recycle good-quality clothing.
The store, which is located in the Talleyville Shopping Center in North Wilmington, opened its doors in October 2010. Maahs and a part-time assistant are the only paid staff at the store. All the other “employees” are volunteers.
The resale shop was started under the leadership of DBCC board member Stacey Bacchieri, who serves as president of the Great Stuff board. Bacchieri and her husband, Gregg, donated the funds to revamp the retail space and Stacey volunteers weekly at the store.
During the planning stages, Maahs says, it was thought that Great Stuff would be a small store operating two or three days a week. No one realized then how enthusiastically the community would embrace the concept. With 1,700 square feet of space, the store is larger than originally planned, and it’s open five days a week.
Women can find a variety of clothing at the store, including evening wear, suits, jeans and separates in sizes petite to 2X with brand names like Chico’s, Anne Klein and St. John. Great Stuff also offers jewelry, accessories, footwear and home furnishings. Donors (and shoppers) include some of Delaware’s most prominent women.
Great Stuff Savvy Resale
Talleyville Shopping Center
3619-A Silverside Road, Wilmington, 478-7890
greatstuffresale.com
facebook.com/greatstuffresale
Open Tues., Wed., Fri. 10-5, Thurs. 10-6, Sat. 10-4
Donations accepted Tues.-Fri. 11-4 and by appointment.
Great Stuff is looking for volunteers.
Call Dale Maahs at 478-7890
