The Angels of Long Island have finally found a home.
The nonprofit group will be operating a thrift store out of an East Patchogue storefront next month.
The nonprofit will be selling donated items at the spacious 350 East Main Street — a former Rent-A-Center — while offering free items to people and families that have fallen on hard times.
Getting donations won’t be a problem, as the Angels’ Facebook group now counts over 51,000 strong.
“We just need to pack this place out” with shoppers, said Debbie Loesch, who started the group with her daughter, Brittany, in October 2015.
At the time, they were seeking help from locals for one family in need. The neighbors responded with donations.
After that, those same neighbors rallied for another family. Then another.
Within weeks, the community of “Angels” had exploded, reaching over 20,000 people and helping dozens of people with “a hand up, not a handout,” as they say.
The then-fledgling-group received media attention for GreaterPatchogue, News 12 Long Island and WALK FM, among other media outlets.
But what also happened is Loesch’s home and property got overrun with donations of all sorts.
Not sure where to put everything and reluctant to reject the items, the women filled up their basement, living spaces, sheds, party tents and a tractor trailer. The occasional yard sale wasn’t enough to relieve them of the furniture, clothes, baby toys and appliances.
“And this is stuff we’ve never even asked for,” said Debbie. “For instance, a 10-foot Santa Claus.”
The women knew early on they would need more space, but were initially hoping to rent a warehouse. “But warehouses were so much money,” said Debbie.
So they switched gears and began looking at commercial properties this spring into summer. And they raised $15,000 in a Kickstarter Campaign to afford the up-front rent, deposit, insurance, utilities and other expenses needed to operate a store that’s open to the public.
The thrift shop concept should work well, they said, because it will raise money while shedding donations.
“This way this stuff isn’t just sitting there, piling up,’ Debbie said. “The sales, we hope, will cover the cost of overhead, and we figured this would be a good way to generate enough income” to expand the group’s efforts.
The location will also serve as the group’s headquarters.
“We’re hoping down the road to help [people to pay their bills], and possibly even open a safe house” for abused women, Debbie said.
Over the past two years, she and Brittany have heard stories from people dealing spousal abuse, or a disability and job loss, or scrambling after a house fire. Then there are those dealing with the effects of a drug-addicted family member, which often results in grandparents suddenly needing to care for young kids again.
The women have also learned a lot about the holes in our society’s safety nets.
That’s why they hope to help in more ways than just clothes or furniture.
“You might pull up to social services with no money to feed your kids that week,” Debbie said. “But if you have money in your name that you might not be able to get access to [due to spousal issues], you won’t qualify for aide. So we’ll have our own interview process.”
The plan is to open the store itself in early October.
The Angels also hope to solicit monthly sponsorships from local businesses to help defray — possibly even cover — the cost of the rent and overhead.
“This way anything we make from sales we can put toward helping more and more people,” said Brittany.
Those in need will shop at the Angels of Long Island store for free.
“They won’t be charged at the counter,” Debbi said. “We can do that discreetly.”
Photo: Frankie Griffin and AJ Multrie, both of Bellport, transport furniture into the new Angels of Long Island thrift store in East Patchogue. (Michael White)
PRIOR COVERAGE:
How the newfound Long Island Angels are changing lives, one family at a time
