No. 84: Holiday House Thrift Shop

For some of the best buys in town on practically new and gently used clothing, books, jewelry and housewares, check out the .

Proceeds benefit the summer camp programs for underprivileged girls at North Shore Holiday House, 74 Huntington Road.

Who knew there was a summer camp program within Huntington’s limits? The colorful bunk houses and outside play area are home to 200 girls ages 7 to 11 in four sessions over the course of the summer. Arts and crafts, swimming, campfires, sports and games and special activities such as computer classes or field trips help expand the girls’ horizons. It all goes toward meeting the camp’s mission of fostering self-esteem and providing the foundations to help girls make appropriate choices in the years ahead.

The thrift store is outside the actual camp playground area, but visitors will see the swings when they go down the exterior steps on the right-hand side of the building to enter the shop.

The thrift shop is not open in the summer when camp is in session – that way, there are no outsiders on the grounds. This year, the shop closes in the middle of June and opens the Wednesday after Labor Day. No donations are accepted when the store is closed.

The rest of the year, however, the thrift shop is open six days a week, except holidays. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Bring cash – it's the only thing the store accepts.

Bargains range from designer clothes with the price tags still attached to sets of dishes, cowboy boots and shoes, ties and scarves, jewelry, children's and adult hardback and paperback books, VHS tapes of TV shows and old movies, and clothes for all seasons.

Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store asks that anyone donating small furniture call ahead to 631-427-2944 to make sure there’s someone to help move it.

There are some donation don’ts, said Cindy McCormack, shop manager: No baby furniture, strollers or infant seats, computers, humidifiers or mattresses, and no artificial trees over 3 feet tall.

And the do’s: clean and gently used clothing, and toys that are like new, clean and complete. “Everything should be working and clean,” McCormack said.

If someone does have baby gear they want to donate, McCormack said the store can help connect you with the local chapter of Newborns in Need.

There are no returns, so make sure your bargain fits.

Many of the store’s shoppers build in a weekly stop to check out new merchandise. Teresa Hamlin and her son, Padric, were checking out what was new on a recent visit. Padric clutched a bottle of bubbles as he toddled from book shelf to table while mom tried on shoes and grandmother looked at clothes.

“I’ve been coming here for years,” Hamlin said. “When you’re watching your budget and you want to get your kid some new clothes, this is a great place.”

Stay tuned for No. 83 next week, same time same place, as Huntington Patch explores the places and activities in town.