Move has helped gift shop at Passavant grow
Business has been booming at the Passavant Retirement Community Gift Shop since its move to the first floor of the main building three years ago.
The auxiliary of Passavant Community has worked to expand the shop and used the profits to fund numerous projects contributing to the community while helping residents in need.
“We have much more inventory, bigger variety and a lot more exposure,” said Nancie Johnson, gift shop manager.
To date the shop has funded handbells, a campus bus, library books, a Christmas gift fund for residents, hospital beds, blanket warmers and defibrillators.
The shop features snacks, necessities, delicacies, sportswear, handmade goods — and the selection is increasing.
“We just started selling cutlery,” said Betty Clyde, assistant to the manager.
Community residents also make things to sell in the shop including dishcloths and poetry cards.
The shop also offers necessities like light bulbs and hearing aid batteries, things that residents would otherwise have to leave the community to buy.
Passavant Community members prefer not to leave the grounds to shop and having a place on site has helped, especially during the holidays.
“We have a lot of people come in and do Christmas shopping,” said Clyde.
It's one of the busiest times of the year, and the shop tries to supply everything a resident needs when shopping for family and friends, from singing stuffed bears to Pittsburgh sportswear.
“For the nursing residents ... they have a fund. $30 to spend for family,” said Clyde. “They come down in their wheelchairs and we run out of room.”
This year, Clyde said they are trying to better organize to keep the pace of shop traffic steady and manageable. And because of reduced operational costs, the gift shop can keep prices low.
“Everyone who works here is a volunteer,” said Clyde.
The shop has 14 to 15 volunteer employees including a student or two over the summer, said Clyde.
Everyone is welcome at the shop, said Clyde, and it is not limited to Passavant Retirement Community members, though it is on the Passavant grounds.
For information, call 724-452-2135 or visit the shop at the Passavant campus in Zelienople.
