Nonprofit thrift store in Church Hill supports nearby schools, charities

CHURCH HILL — The Community Clothes Closet has donated to local schools and charities for over 30 years, but has been struggling to find enough volunteers to keep their pace up. The nonprofit thrift store awards scholarships to Volunteer High School seniors, gives clothes and household items to schools, donates to the nearby food bank and more. The closet will also help individuals who need clothing or whatever else they might have. "Everybody we give to helps the community," Store Manager Leigh Ann Kistner said. "That's the best part about it." Women from the town's First United Methodist Church started the Community Clothes Closet in 1995. Margaret Davidson was the board of directors' first chair. Current Chair Nellie Hickman was also on the original board. They operated out of a house next to Ratliff's Music Store during the first year. The nonprofit then had a storefront, eventually two, off Church Hill's East Main Boulevard. But when that location was sold in 2020, they moved a half-mile away to their current site off of U.S. Highway 11W, next to Food Lion. The new store was smaller, limiting how many donations they could accept and thus how much they could sell. While donations dipped in this time, they've picked up again, Hickman said; the closet stopped requiring drop-off appointments. People bring a variety of items, and the closet takes them as long as they can fit through the door. They're also working to increase storage space. The nonprofit's biggest struggle, Kistner said, is lack of manpower. There are four paid employees, including her, fellow manager Brittany Hall and two volunteers. In past years, Hickman said, there'd been as many as 70 volunteers — but that crowd has aged out. Recently, the closet began partnering with Volunteer High School's special education students for work-based learning. They also get young volunteers completing the 16-hour service requirement for Tennessee Promise's scholarship program. "One thing I try to stress, if somebody wants to volunteer: If you get a couple of friends together, it's fun," Hickman said. "If we could get more volunteers, we could do so much more," Hall said. The closet is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is cash only. There are three half-price sales a month. For the rest of the year, they are Oct. 6, 7 and 8; Nov. 3, 4 and 5; and Dec. 1, 2 and 3. For more information, call 423-357-7004 or visit the Community Clothes Closet Facebook page.