The Community Shop in Katonah is a higher-end thrift shop, and it is impressive.  They carry women’s clothes, shoes, and accessories. They also have men’s and children’s clothes and shoes. All the better brands are there, and inventory is constantly changing, which I can attest to. But what is more impressive is that all proceeds from the Community Shop go directly back to the Community Center.  The Community Center of Northern Westchester currently supports 3,000 Northern Westchester struggling families by providing food and clothing assistance and the programs and resources to support their journey back to self-sufficiency.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Ann Hardy, the manager of the Community Shop. Ann had a consignment shop in Bedford Hills scheduled to close towards the end of February 2019.  She donated all inventory (including the racks) from her shop to the Community Center, where all clothing donations are dropped off. She stayed on as a volunteer to help them open the Community Shop just one week later, in March 2019. After two months of volunteering and the shop being a success, she was hired by the Community Center as a full-time manager for the Community Shop. By talking to Ann, you can tell how passionate she is about her work and how the Community Shop’s proceeds go directly back into the community.

The Community Center in Katonah has been helping struggling families in Northern Westchester for over 30 years.  All the clothing donations are donated through the Community Center, where there is a clothing boutique and food pantry where families can shop once a month without paying. It is helping families in great need while treating them with dignity and respect. Programs are offered for learning skills and language, among others, to help build a better life for the families they serve. Some other services/programs they provide are career counseling, free eye exams and eyeglasses, college application help, health screenings and flu shots, and citizen exam preparation. The Community Center has also provided comfort to over 600 seniors through food, clothing, and essential supplies.

Ninety-five percent of the clothing donations brought to the Community Center are given to needy families.  The remaining small percentage is sent to the Community Shop where it is sold, and the money helps keep the food pantry stocked, programs running, and their doors open to help those in need. If you want to help, clothing is only accepted at the Community Center, located at 84 Bedford Road, Katonah. They welcome donations of clean, gently used, seasonal clothing, shoes, and linens. They accept fall and winter clothing from September through March and spring and summer clothing from March through August.  (Unfortunately, the Center cannot accept undergarments, second-hand pajamas, uniforms, bathing suits, books, toys, or stuffed animals.) If you have donations of houseware items, please visit their friends at the Katonah Thrift Shop across the street at 71 Bedford Road in Katonah.

Ann Hardy and Linda, one of the volunteers from the Community Shop

They are currently having a SHARE THE WARMTH drive. During October and November, the Share the Warmth drive collects new gloves, hats, socks, and blankets for children (infants through age 18). They will distribute these items during December.  They gratefully accept donations when the Center is open. Please see their Share the Warmth page for details about the program.  I have only told you a fraction of what they do – visit their website to learn all they do for the Northern Westchester Community. https://communitycenternw.org/

The Community Shop is located at 196 Katonah Avenue and is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11 AM until 5 PM. The number is 914.401.9163, and Ann Hardy’s email is ahardy@communitycenternw.org. Besides the great shopping at the Community Shop, you are helping the lives of so many families in their time of need.

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!