Thrift store needs help to fund nonprofit, move to a new location

A nonprofit is trying to save one of its biggest sources of revenue. DejaVu Thrift Store, which is part of Hope Connection International, already needs to relocate to make way for new development in Cary.

If they can’t raise $150,000 by January 30, the store may have to close all together.

Debra Barkett founded Hope Connection International to help people struggling with addiction or domestic violence situations.

"We have free support groups and classes; we have a victim sponsorship program. We help people with rent assistance, utilities, daycare, pretty much whatever they need," she said.

DejaVu Thrift is one of the main sources of support for Hope Connection.

"The store has become kind of a hub of our ministry. If we can stay in business and grow it, it will be our main income stream,” Barkett explained to WRAL News. “I’m most concerned about the people that we’ve hired who are in recovery and taking care of elderly parents who won’t have income anymore. That’s my biggest concern; that’s the main reason I want to save the store is for them.”

DejaVu Thrift is a place where her clients can come work, volunteer or find refuge.

Barkett will lose her South Hills location in Cary when the strip mall, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and Interstate 440, is updated.

When plans for that redevelopment were announced, Barkett told WRAL News, "A lot of these businesses are small businesses, and we can’t afford the rent in Cary.

“I think it’s exciting that Cary is expanding and developing, and they’re going to build a sports center here,” she said. “But I think also there should be a plan to relocate or compensate small businesses, so we don’t displace them.”

Since then, she’s found a potential new home for the store in Zebulon. The $150,000 would go to readying the space.

While DejaVu and others won't technically have to vacate South Hills until March, a recent HVAC problem has moved up her deadline.

“The reason the timeline is so imminent is because our air conditioning has gone out in this building. It doesn’t make sense for them to repair it when they’re going to tear this down within the year,” she said.

Inside the store also lives Owl Art Studio.

“This art studio actually is run by a Ukrainian woman who rescued her parents from Ukraine, who are disabled. This is her only form of income. If our store goes under, [the studio] goes under, several people will lose jobs, and the benefit to the community will be lost,” she said.

The new place, Barkett said, would allow the nonprofit to have everything under one roof: the store, the art studio and its community care center. So far, Barkett said the nonprofit has raised roughly $6,000.

“That’s a little far from $150,000. If we don’t raise enough, we would put the money into the victim sponsorship program and our future Supportive Housing Program. If we ended up having to close the store anyway, that money will still go to Hope Connection.”