This year the St. John’s Opportunity Shop is pleased to donate $50,000 via St. John’s Norwood Parish to local, national, and international charities.
Funding charitable giving
The “Op Shop” was founded more than 70 years ago by the women of St. John's to operate as a community service, selling donated items with profits supporting church outreach and other community services. Since that time, and in various Bethesda locations, the shop has aided disaster survivors, refugees, local families and children in need, and others including Montgomery Hospice, The Children’s Inn at NIH, Second Genesis, Greentree Shelter, Companions in World Ministry, and Manna Food Bank.
This year, after record-breaking sales and a review of its finances, the shop will donate $50,000 with recommendations to support groups and efforts that share a mission with the church. An additional $7,000+ will be also disbursed directly by the shop to charities determined by its Board in April.
Providing goods to those in need and reducing landfill waste
While earning money to fund philanthropy is the shop’s primary mission, it also helps people directly. Those in need can buy clothing and household items with a church voucher; its low prices make quality items accessible to all budgets; and the shop often gives items directly to those in need. Items that can’t be sold are donated to other charities and social organizations, and still other items are donated to specialists—e.g., cashmere via Ralph Lauren to be rewoven, shoes for refurbishment via DSW to overseas entrepreneurs, bras via I Support the Girls to women in need, and furs to PETA for wildlife rehabilitation. In a variety of ways, the shop thus finds new life for goods that might otherwise end up in the landfill.
A social space and a Bethesda institution
Beyond its philanthropic mission, the shop is also a social space. Our customers come from all walks of life, looking for a bargain or for something unique. Our volunteers are also a varied group, bringing skills and commitment that have made the shop a success for generations. Regular customers share their interests with volunteer staff who take the time to chat. The volunteers often develop into regular teams who, working together over time, become supportive friends. Over the years, “The Op Shop” has become a Bethesda institution.
Support the Op Shop's great work
Please support the Op Shop's great work by volunteering, donating, and/or shopping! Student volunteers can earn SSL hours.