Proud to be from Pittsburgh: East End Community Thrift Store

A thrift store in Pittsburgh has become a meeting place where people feel welcome to gather.

The East End Community Thrift Store is run by the Bloomfield Garfield Development Corporation and features not only cheap prices, but a place for people to spend time together. Shirley Gleditsch founded the store in 1993 to raise funds for the Thomas Merton Center.

Some of the customers who frequent the store have been coming for decades.

"I came into this store with my six children, and I knew they need coats, shoes, underwear, but I only had a little bit of money," said Cookie McDonald, who first came to The East End Community Thrift Store in 1997.

McDonald didn't have enough money that day, but Gledistsch gave her the clothing anyway. Now McDonald is part of a close-knit family made up of former customers who now volunteer and pay it forward/

"My only daughter passed away and left me with three beautiful girls: 4 days old, 6, and 8. Shirley took me in as family," said Janet Myles, one of the volunteers.

Visitors to the store won't just find clothing to buy, but people to talk to and music to listen to.

The East End Community Thrift Store also works with 100 area homeless programs to provide vouchers for people who need items but can't afford to pay.

More information about the work they do and ways people can help can be found at

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Cox Media Group