ENID, OK - If you have ever been to Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse, enjoyed the fireworks Main Street puts on downtown the day after Thanksgiving, experienced a symphony or a Gaslight performance, or have children in a local public school, you have benefited from Park Avenue Thrift. After 11 years of being directed by its founders, Park Avenue Thrift will be hiring a new executive director this spring.
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“Thanks to their entrepreneurial spirit, sweat equity and community passion, Paula Nightengale and David Hume, along with staff, board and donors have built Enid’s finest thrift store, to the benefit of shoppers and our community,” says Molly Helm, board chair. “We are grateful for their service and appreciate their legacy to Enid.”
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Paula Nightengale and David Hume retired. The board of directors has begun a search for the next leader to continue the Park Avenue Thrift mission of strengthening the community through collecting others’ stuff, running a top-notch thrift store, giving away proceeds and serving others.
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This week the Giving Committee awarded nearly $120,000 in community grants. Since 2007 Park Avenue Thrift has contributed nearly $3 million to community nonprofits and schools, including Loaves & Fishes, Enid Symphony, Enid and Chisholm Public Schools through DonorsChoose.org, Chautauqua, Gaslight, Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse, Lead Guitar and other organizations that improve quality of life. The store employs 30 people and gives local residents an easy way to share items they no longer need so they can be used by others, while funding important Enid programs.
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Leading the search committee is board member Lynn Smith. “We are looking for just the right person to carry forward Park Avenue’s work, ideally with a blend of nonprofit and retail experience to help us grow our store and our community giving,” says Smith. “We are launching a search and hope to have the position filled by August.”
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Longtime managers Jelka Shearon and Malvin Arter, who together have been at Park Avenue Thrift for nearly 20 years, will continue to run day-to-day operations.
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“We have an excellent operations team. Our staff is ready—as always—to welcome donations, sort your treasures, and stock the shelves for shoppers,” says Helm.
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“Besides being an excellent shopping opportunity, Park Avenue Thrift contributes substantially to Enid’s economy through sales tax, payroll, utilities and grants,” says Bert Mackie, community leader and longtime Park Avenue supporter. “It’s a gem and benefits so many.”
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Park Avenue Thrift gives people the chance to repurpose, reuse and recycle to fund initiatives that improve the quality of life in Enid.
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Park Avenue Thrift Awards Grants and Seeks New Executive Director
