Humane society store schedules special sale Saturday

If there is one place that represents the heart of the Humane Society of Faulkner County, it is Companions Thrift Store. It is a place where volunteers interact with the public, and friends can bring new and gently used donations suitable for resale to support the organization's efforts.

Companions, which opened in 2002, provides financial resources to support humane society programs like foster adoption and spay/neuter assistance. Last year, sales at Companions totaled $21,000, making it one of the organization's biggest fund-raising efforts of the year.

"To me, Companions is one of our faces to the public," said Donna Stephens, humane society board president. "Not enough people in Conway are aware of our location and that 100 percent of their donation stays local and is tax-deductible."

A special sale is planned 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Companions. All clothing items have been marked down and are 25 cents to 50 cents each. Other items also have been reduced.

Located at 2219 Washington St., a few blocks south of Mazzio's Pizza and Audio Express, the building was donated to the humane society by Lucille Anesi. "Due to tremendous growth, last year we also took on the building next door to further expand our offerings and that has proven successful," Stephens said.

Shoppers can find home dcor, household items, clothing, toys, holiday decorations, small furnishings and much more at the store. While Companions cannot accept large appliances or exercise equipment, the humane society can accept most other donations.

An appointment is not necessary to drop off items, and the staff invites individuals to call if in question on an item.

"Last week a local artist donated lots of new acrylic paint and several old wooden windows, similar to the ones currently found in antique stores," Stephens said. "A few weeks earlier, Companions received a donation of new lightweight wool pants from London Fog. You never know what you might find."

The thrift store is run entirely by volunteers with Barbara Huban, a humane society board member, serving as the coordinator.

There are several ways people can get involved:

Donate items. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Serve as a volunteer sales associate. Help is welcome anytime but individuals are needed to fill these specific shifts - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers can work every week, every other week or as available.

Help sort and display items.

Help with seasonal yard sales.

"We could always use additional volunteers to sort and help display items, as well as individuals to work an afternoon each week," Stephens said.

Companions Thrift Store also serves as headquarters for the humane society executive director and volunteers. Individuals who would like to donate items for foster dogs and cats, can bring them to Companions. High-quality pet food and new pet accessories are always appreciated.

For more information on the store, call Companions at 932-4444. For more information on the humane society, call 329-2361 or visit the Web site at www.humane-fc.org.