Humane Society thrift store posts $13,000 opening-day sales as shelter redirects donations during Palm City renovation

The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast’s new Wedgwood Plaza thrift store drew large crowds at its grand opening and brought in more than $13,000 in sales, the organization said during a Pets on Parade radio segment.

Kelly Ellis, director of the thrift stores for the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, said, "We did over $13,000 in sales that day." She told host Sarah Fisher the proceeds go directly to animals in the shelter’s care and that the store’s brighter layout and larger cat area appear to be increasing adoptions: "We adopted out 4 cats that day," Ellis said.

The opening followed a move from a smaller, darker location. Ellis described the new store as "night and day," saying donors have maintained "top notch" merchandise and that some clothing prices have been reduced. She and Fisher credited community support for the turnout and sales; Ellis said volunteers and shoppers helped generate hundreds of transactions and rapid turnover of inventory.

The Humane Society is temporarily redirecting donations to both its thrift stores while its main shelter in Palm City undergoes renovation. "Our main shelter in Palm City is gonna be renovating," Ellis said, adding the project will include a new adoption area, intake area, customer-service area and a spay-and-neuter drop-off. Because of limited storage at the shelter during renovation, Ellis asked donors to bring items to one of the thrift stores or to the North Thrift Store next to Once Upon a Child on U.S. 1.

Ellis provided practical details for donors and volunteers: both stores accept donations daily (donation hours 10 a.m.–4 p.m. were given), the Wedgwood Plaza store’s shopping hours were listed as 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and the Wedgwood store is open later (until 7 p.m.) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The organization accepts calls for furniture pick-up if items are on the first floor and in good condition in Martin County; a small delivery fee for purchases is treated as a donation that benefits the animals. Ellis said the organization’s online wish list is at hstc1.org/wishlist.

Ellis said the thrift stores rely heavily on volunteers; she said 86 volunteers were active this past year and that those volunteers contributed about 17,000 hours. She described the volunteer program as open to young people: children can start volunteering at 12 with an adult, and those 16 and older may volunteer on their own.

Fisher and Ellis encouraged community members to shop, donate or volunteer at either the Wedgwood Plaza store or the North Thrift Store. Ellis closed by noting the broader goal: proceeds and donated goods help support animals in the shelter while the Palm City facility is renovated.