City Appoints Interim Thrift Shop Administrator, Creates Reopening Initiative

May 11, 2021  –  The Mercer Island Thrift Shop – a City-run resale boutique that helps fund critical youth and family programs – welcomes a new transition leader to oversee the recovery of this important community institution. City Manager Jessi Bon announced Sharon Perez as Interim Thrift Shop Administrator, having started on May 10. 

“Our Thrift Shop is a unique and valued institution in our community with a real impact on the services we provide,” Bon said. “Sharon’s expertise and dedication will be instrumental in building back these services, while creating a stronger and more stable operating future.”

Perez has an expansive track record of community-building and nonprofit experience, including numerous fundraising and development positions. Her professional and consulting work includes positions with the Better Boards Initiative, Mercer Island Center for the Arts, Seattle Universal Math Museum, and other nonprofit organizations across the country. Perez also brings strong local leadership experience, holding board and volunteer positions with the Mercer Island Community Fund,  Let’s Move! Mercer Island, the Mercer Island Food Revolution, and the Mercer Island Farmers Market. She holds a dual MBA and MPA degree from Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management and a bachelors degree in history from Oregon State University.

“One of my personal values is to be a community builder; to bring people together through a shared vision,” Perez said. “I look for exponential value in people and organizations and I see that at the Thrift Shop. It’s a beloved part of our community with a huge impact.”

The Thrift Shop has been in operation for over 50 years, having cultivated a strong affiliation in the community with a loyal customer base. Donated materials are sold both in-shop and online with proceeds directly funding Youth and Family Services programs, including critical counseling and emergency assistance services. Thrift Shop operations are City-run with support from a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. The Thrift Shop generated more than $1.1 million in funding for Youth and Family Services in 2019. 

While the shop was closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, sales resumed in August operating on Sundays only and donations resumed in October operating on Saturdays only. Donations are temporarily being accepted out of the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. 

The steep decline of Thrift Shop revenue resulted in a number of  layoffs and furloughs in the Youth and Family Service Department in 2020. The Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation, an independent supportive nonprofit, helped offset these losses with the commitment of an additional $815,000 in critical funding support.  This contribution helped restore counseling services for the 2020-2021 school year while the City works to recover Thrift Shop operations impacted by the Pandemic.

“I sincerely appreciate the countless hours of hard work and dedication from our community partners, volunteers, and the staff team, especially over the past year,” Bon said. “I’m excited to see our Thrift Shop begin to recover and we’re dedicated to its future success. We’ve taken time to evaluate our operating approach and we’ll apply that knowledge as we move forward.”

The key theme for the restoration of Thrift Shop services is “Build Back Better.” Perez, in her transition role, is focused on developing a long-term operating strategy, including strengthening the volunteer program,  streamlining donations , and optimizing sales and marketing. 

“There’s a lot of pride for Youth and Family Services and everything we do in Mercer Island,” Perez said. “If the Pandemic showed us anything, it’s that support systems are really critical – and our community is ready to support them through a vibrant Thrift Shop vision and a successful operation.” 

To learn more about the Thrift Shop or browse the online store, visit the Mercer Island Thrift Shop website.