Community Corner
Studio City Thrift Shop Helps Fund Services Across City
The National Council of Jewish Women uses thrift shop revenue to provide advocacy and services for women, families and children in need and at risk.
“We’re unique,” says Hillary Selvin, executive director of the National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles. “We try and fill the gaps in services.” There is no other way to describe this one-hundred-year-old grassroots advocacy and community service organization. The range of their programs is enormous.
With only six clinical social workers and six social work interns at its Fairfax Ave. office, the council utilizes its 350 trained volunteers to provide Women Helping Children and Women Helping Women services to low-income clients at locations all over LA.
More than 70 percent of the budget for the council’s far-reaching work on behalf of women, children and families is funded by sales at its nine Los Angeles thrift stores. The newest one, at 12203 Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, may be more popular than the tony boutiques that surround it.
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“It’s a marvelous locale for our thrift shop,” says the council’s director of retail operations, Robert Klausner. “With 50 parking spaces in the back, it’s a great place to walk around and shop.”
The customers I met in the store on Presidents’ Day are all regulars. They know they will find high quality goods and designer labels at reasonable prices. I saw a wedding gown in perfect condition on the “$8 and Up” rack and children’s clothes starting at a dollar.
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Steven Erenberg stops in as often as he can. “I just always come and browse. If I can buy I buy. If not I donate.” Erenberg has brought books, dishes and small appliances to the store because he knows they sell well. “And sooner or later they’ll probably get my mother’s two fur coats. She’s been dead 11 years. It’s time to donate.”
Not only can donations be dropped off at the store any time, the council will pick up your clothing, furniture and housewares at no cost to you. Trucks pull up to the loading dock in back of the store every day loaded with treasures.
“Our donations are really super important,” says Abby Diamond, manager of the Studio City store. She adds that once a year in December the council does a clothing giveaway to the needy. Last year they served 5,000 people, distributing 70,000 pieces of clothing.
Among many other services, the council provides art and literacy programs to elementary schools, libraries, teen-mom programs and homeless shelters. Community counseling and support are offered through group and individual sessions, a telephone talk line and case management.
The council has an Emergency Survival Fund to help women and families in crisis and special services for victims of domestic violence. There is also a scholarship program for individuals who have overcome obstacles in their lives.
The council also devotes substantial time and energy to advocacy work. It is developing a family court program that will make the system more responsive to the needs of domestic violence survivors. Volunteers are working to educate the public and law enforcement professionals about the current proliferation of human trafficking.
The next Best of the Best event is coming up at the Studio City store on March 5 and 6. Designer brands and high-quality clothing, furniture, fine jewelry and fine art will be available from 8:00 am–6:00 pm. But get ready. People start lining up in front of the store at 7:30.
“It’s a big event,” says Diamond. “We have people who are resellers, dealers, people who are just looking for a good deal on great stuff. It’s a big deal.”
