HEALTH & WELLNESS
SUNCOAST HOSPICE RESALE
SHOPS: MORE THAN JUST
GREAT BARGAINS
Rafael J. Sciullo
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 117
Thrift shopping has become a
trendy way to furnish your
home or bolster your wardrobes
at affordable price points. Our
three Suncoast Hospice Resale Shops are
so much more – they help ensure access to
expert, compassionate care for those with
chronic or advanced illnesses or dealing
with grief in our community. These services
are made possible through your donations ,
volunteer hours and/or shopping trips.
The shops return more than $1.8 million
to provide care for patients, participants
and clients of Empath Health.
Everything sold at the Resale Shops is
donated by a member of our community,
like you. This includes women’s, men’s
and children’s fashion and accessories,
artwork, furniture, household items,
holiday décor, sporting and exercise
equipment, etc. Cleaning out your closets
and garages can take on a new meaning
when your donated items are helping
others. Drop off donations at the store
closest to you or call to request a pickup
of oversized or heavy items.
We work hard to recycle as many of the
items as possible that we cannot sell – when
they don’t meet our quality standards,
or do not work, so they do not end up in
the landfill. As a bonus, we are raising
additional funds for our care programs.
In 2019, the three stores recycled 17 tons
of clothing, books and leather items, nine
tons of electronics and almost 10 tons
of metal items. Following the pandemic
lockdowns in 2020, we received record
donations and received $13,300 from our
recycling programs.
Another way our shops raise money
is through our yearly Suncoast Hospice
Fashion Show and Boutique event where
all the items sold are sourced from
donations and include exclusive fashions
and accessories. Make sure you save the
date for the 2022 Fashion Show, which will
be held February 5 at the Innisbrook Golf
Resort. Smaller regional fashion shows
requested by community organizations
provide a festive shopping atmosphere
for groups looking for bargains brought
to them all while giving back to Suncoast
Hospice and our other member programs.
Contact the Resale Shop closest to you and
talk to a manager if you are interested in
hosting a show.
Our Resale Shops could not function
without our volunteers. Because of the
125-150 volunteers at each store, we are able
to operate the stores with only six paid staff
members, which includes store managers
and pick-up drivers. Volunteers take in
donations, often listening empathetically
to the stories of the families and friends
of those we have cared for, ring up sales,
price merchandise, stock shelves and so
much more.
Volunteers range in age from teenagers
to 97 years young. We have approximately
60 teenagers who regularly volunteer
at our stores receiving not only Bright
Future Scholar volunteer hours but also
acquiring real-world skills and hearing
and sharing about the difference Empath
Health services make in the lives of so
many. We are always looking for new
volunteers. See a store manager or visit
EmpathHealth.org/Volunteer to get started.
Empath Health clients not only benefit
from the funds raised by the Resale Shops.
If needed, they can choose items from the
shops at no charge. In 2019, more than
17 tons of merchandise were gifted to
clients. This could include kitchen items
a Suncoast PACE participant is lacking, a
comfortable pair of pajamas and slippers
for a Suncoast Hospice patient, or a piece
of exercise equipment that could help an
Empath Home Health patient in his or
her recovery.
And finally, you can’t forget the
shopping. Our regular Suncoast Hospice
Resale Shop customers know our stores
are the places to get bargains on amazing
merchandise that regularly rotates with
new donations hitting the floor throughout
the day. From Monday Madness with
all clothing 50% off to seasonal specials
to manager specials, there are many
opportunities to save. Get the insider
details on our sales by signing up for our
monthly sales calendar at IfYouThrift.org.
Whether you donate, volunteer or shop
for great bargains, your participation with
our Resale Shops truly makes a difference
in lives every day. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Rafael J. Sciullo is
the CEO of Empath Health, a nonprofit
integrated network of care for those affected
by chronic or advanced illness in west and
southwestern Florida. For more information
about services, call (727) 467-7423 or visit
EmpathHealth.org.
By Rafael J. Sciullo