The St. Andrews Auxiliary Thrift Shop, a favorite hangout for the region’s bargain hunters, is moving.

But if you are seeking a lost Faberge egg or a sturdy sweatshirt for the beach, don’t worry. They are not going away. They are just shifting a couple of doors north of their present location in the Meadow Mall.

Carole McCarthy, the store manager and straw boss for the popular venue, said the grand opening for the new location may be in two and a half weeks. “There is no set date, we will know more in a week or so,” she said.

Speaking from a plush couch in the middle of the store that once housed Harbor Tech and a Radio Shack store, she paused to tell one of her volunteers that she could put a plastic tool box in the office, and complimented a volunteer painter for his skill.

“We plan to close the old store for three days to move the more than 500 boxes of stuff and arrange it in the new location that is more than twice the size of the former store.”

The thrift shop plays a vital role in the community by providing clothing and household goods at rock bottom prices. Because the shop is run by an all-volunteer staff, and their merchandise is donated, they were able to donate $50,000-plus to causes like LincolnHealth to help with patient care, medical education, local paramedic services, COVID-19 PPE equipment and equipment for the Gregory Wing at St. Andrews Village.

McCarthy, who described herself as a glutton for punishment for taking on the task of moving the shop, praised the volunteers scurrying, and she admitted the move was not her idea.

Laura Zajdel, the Auxiliary president and a thrift shop volunteer, suggested it. “I was not for it at first, because I didn’t want to spend the money. But then she convinced me that we could sell more stuff and make more money to donate,” said McCarthy.

Like many merchants, the Thrift Shop was affected by the pandemic. However, she said recent donations have tripled as people cleaned out their homes, moved and turned over cottages.

Sometimes donors send in high end items, like antiques, jewelry and paintings from local artists like Tony van Hasslet, Carlton Plummer and others. Those are sent to dealers. She explained that the shop could not sell those items for their true market price.

In addition to clothing for men, women and children, household goods, including china, seem to be hot items. China is popular with newlyweds and for rental cottage owners. “We get good stuff and sell it at a good price,” she said.

Additional space will let the shop sell additional items including furniture and electronics. “We will take flat screen TV sets, but not the old big ones that people want to give us just so they won’t have to pay a fee to dispose of it at the dump,” she said.

McCarthy is an energetic person and her hard work is evidenced by the foot-long swath of lime green paint that decorates the underside of her left arm. “Oh, that. It will wash off,” she said.

But the thrift shop is not her only volunteer calling. She also delivers groceries in neighboring communities to people who are shut in.

“What else can I tell you about the new shop?” she asked.

How about odd-ball items. Do you get some of those?

“We got a mermaid costume once. And we got a kind of bright green blow up monster costume that one of our volunteers wore across the street to the Hannaford supermarket. That caused a stir,” she laughed.

“Oh, and we will keep plugging a deal of the day, where we try to sell hard to sell items for cheap,” she said. “We recently put together a box of July Fourth stuff and got rid of it for a buck or two.”

As she showed off her new store, she spotted a pair of hugely oversized clown shoes, bright red basketball shoes that were at least size 25, EEEE.

“I guess we will hang them up by the men’s shoe section. Or maybe I will send them to my daughter. She hates clowns, you know.”

Then she was handed a bright green lizard monster costume head with big teeth lining its open maw and she put it on. “Surprise. I can see you,” she laughed and dropped it by one of the hundreds of boxes waiting to be inventoried.

As she sat on the stuffed couch, she looked around and mused: “I used to like to move, I loved it, but that was when we had a company to move us. This is different.”

And so it is.