Treasures in the attic

Valley Life editor

In 1975, 25 women from St. Michael's and Sacred Heart Catholic churches banded together to start Bishop's Attic II as a way to not only provide people with a place to get clothing at a reasonable price, but also to help raise money for the two churches.

Now, 30 years later, Bishop's Attic II has kept up with its mission of providing reasonable prices, but philanthropy has changed a bit - instead of shelling out a total of $2,000 as it did in 1975, Bishop's Attic II was able to donate more than $200,000 in 2004. While the two churches are still the primary beneficiaries, 19 other community groups benefited from Bishop's Attic II in 2004, ranging the Boys and Girls Club to the Mat-Su Parent Resource Center.

"All of our donations come in from the Valley, so we try to give most of the money back to Valley charities," said Rose Scheibl, a member of the board of directors who was also the first-ever store manager at Bishop's Attic II.

With each year being more successful than the last, as has been the trend, and Bishop's Attic II's commitment to the community, it's easy to do the math - the group has helped Valley charities with hundreds of thousands of dollars in the last few years.

"I think you could say 'more than' half a million in the last the couple years," said Carol Akerson, a Bishop's Attic II board member.

Bishop's Attic II has grown exponentially since 1975. The store has moved several times to bigger locations, and improvements have constantly been made. It is a full-service thrift store now, where people can get everything from furniture to downhill skis to clothing. The store employs one full-time manager, Janice Crook, as well as 10 other part-time employees. There are also more than 50 volunteers who also work at Bishop's Attic II.

Crook said the store averages about 200 sales, or transactions, a day, and most of the customers are regulars. They come to the store because they know they can get quality merchandise at deeply discounted prices.

"We see some of the same people every morning. If we don't see them, we think something may be wrong," Crook said. "Our customers know the good we're doing here. It's a win/win situation."

While Bishop's Attic II relies on sales, in certain cases, money isn't even part of a transaction.

The store has worked with other agencies to help people get back on their feet in times of dire need.

"If there is a fire that destroys a home, we provide two full sets of clothes to the family, as well as winter clothing like boots, hats and gloves," Crook said. "And we've worked with the Job Corps to set up some of their people with outfits to wear to interviews. We've also worked with the hospital, and a lot of other groups."

As a nonprofit organization, all of Bishop's Attic II's year-end profits are donated to charities.

What makes Bishop's Attic II unique is the fact that it's not just the board of directors who decides where the money goes.

"All of the volunteers and the staff get to vote. It's real democratic. If they do the work, they should have some say," Scheibl said.

The good of Bishop's Attic II is obvious in most cases - customers get low prices, and local organizations get thousands of dollars each year. But for the volunteers and the workers, Bishop's Attic II gives them a sense of accomplishment.

"I've been with Bishop's Attic II for 27 years. I have a real strong sense that I'm really helping others in the community. And I've made great friends working here - it's a social thing, too," Scheibl said. "When we're all sitting back here during lunchtime, we can solve all the world's problems," she said with a chuckle.

Akerson agreed, saying that Bishop's Attic II has been a positive social influence.

"We are trying to be a big asset to Palmer as a community, and we are putting a lot of work into it," Akerson said.