With a new thrift store and a new location, leaders of the Bread of Life Outreach hope to be able to help more people in the community.

The thrift store opened last week at the new Bread of Life Outreach headquarters at 801 W. Lebanon St., Mt. Airy.

“We’d been wanting to do this for years ... We’ve got nice stuff at good prices,” said Sandra Daniel.

Daniel started Bread of Life Outreach in 2004 with her husband, Cliff. Since that time, a large amount of clothes have been donated to the organization. They previously kept the clothes stored at FireHouse Ministries. Daniel said they used to just give the clothing away and have yard sales twice a year. But then they decided to open a thrift store and use the proceeds from the sales to help more people in the community.

She said, “This is just an opportunity to try to help in the community.”

The store is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daniel said it is run by volunteers. The thrift store sells clothing for men, women and children. It also has shoes, purses, knick-knacks and other household items for sale.

“Everything is donated,” Daniel explained. “That’s how we keep going.”

She said that she goes over each piece of clothing because she wants the store to have good quality items. She said they sell many brand name items. Anything that can’t be used in the store is donated to the Salvation Army.

Daniel said all money from sales will go to Bread of Life to help people in Surry County. The outreach assists the elderly and needy families with heating oil, medicine and other necessities. It also has a food bank.

But if people can’t afford the clothes at the thrift store, Daniel said the outreach will give the clothes to them.

Daniel said people that receive services from the outreach find out about it by word of mouth, from other organizations, or by referral from agencies such as the Department of Social Services. Anyone that would like to request help or find out more about the thrift store can contact the outreach at 719-6979 or visit the West Lebanon Street location.

Soon the outreach will begin serving monthly meals again. It also has other regular projects, such as providing backpacks for children. In a few months, Daniel said they will open a community center next door to the outreach. She said youth will have a place to come, and it will be used for a lot of things in the community.

Of the outreach and its programs, Daniel said, “It’s a great way to reach people that are in need.”

According to Daniel, the store is doing well so far. She would eventually like to expand its hours of operation to add another day.

Daniel said the outreach welcomes donations of money and items to the thrift store. People can bring items directly to the store. She has faith that the store will continue having plenty of items to sell.

“It’ll continue because it’s for a good cause,” Daniel said with a smile.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or at 719-1952.