![United Way of Santa Rosa County Major Gifts Manager Kyle Holley, left, and Executive Director Guy Thompson stand at the doorway of UWSR's upcoming thrift store in Milton. [AARON LITTLE | Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-60f0c0f8-168b-7478-e053-0100007f7401-e71e7287-scaled.jpeg)
MILTON — The United Way of Santa Rosa County is repurposing the Whiting Furniture building at 6447 Caroline St. in Milton into a thrift store. Due to the search for the best price for remodeling, UWSR had to push back its projected December opening to March.
The purpose of the store is two-fold, according to UWSR Executive Director Guy Thompson. The first goal is to reduce the burden on Interfaith Ministries’ work in the Milton and Pace area. The second is to keep more thrift store dollars in Santa Rosa County.
"(Interfaith has) been spending approximately 58 percent of their total budget for helping people up in this end of the county," Thompson said.
Interfaith receives support from UWSR through funding and office space for case managers. However, those case managers are reaching ages where they can no longer continue as case managers, according to Thompson.
So, UWSR can recruit volunteer case managers locally and reduce Interfaith costs, staff needs and travel time.
Thompson is also concerned about where earnings from other thrift stores in the area go, saying the My Father’s Arrows thrift store may be the only one focusing on supporting Santa Rosa County.
"It’s time money quits flowing across the river to another county and stays in Santa Rosa County to help the people of Santa Rosa County," Thompson said. "That’s not been happening."
The focus of the store will be on serving the senior citizen community, according to Thompson. In March, UWSR completed its senior citizen survey as part of its contract with Milton to complete a Community Lifecycle Plan.
"We found seniors living on social security, some living out of cars, homeless, living month to month and deciding between food or medicine," he said.
In addition to the store, Thompson wants to keep a volunteer case manager mainly to assist people in financial distress, whether they’re behind on their bills or rent or facing a crisis situation like a sick child.
Thompson also wants to add a food pantry with a cooler.
UWSR will need volunteer help to sort clothes, stock items and train to be case managers, Thompson said, and he’s calling on churches to help.
"We need churches to be involved," he said. "I think churches of Santa Rosa County need to stand up and be counted. There are some doing a tremendous job but some stay isolated.
"Their mission should be out there serving."
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: United Way eyes thrift store opening