New thrift store to benefit youth

There’s a new second-hand store in town. My Father’s House Community Thrift, located at the corner of Midway Boulevard and W. Whidbey Avenue, benefits Island County organizations including Adoption Assistance for Whidbey Island and North Whidbey Help House.

December 24, 2009 1:36 pm
April Maggio sets up a rack of children’s shoes at My Father’s House Community Thrift. The store held its official grand opening on Dec. 7.
April Maggio sets up a rack of children’s shoes at My Father’s House Community Thrift. The store held its official grand opening on Dec. 7.

There’s a new second-hand store in town.

My Father’s House Community Thrift, located at the corner of Midway Boulevard and W. Whidbey Avenue, benefits Island County organizations including Adoption Assistance for Whidbey Island and North Whidbey Help House.

The second-hand store also provides scholarships to children of low-income families so they can participate in local sports including Oak Harbor High School Athletics, North Whidbey Aquatic Club, North Whidbey Little League, Oak Harbor Youth Football and North Whidbey Soccer Club.

“Times are tough in this community right now,” Tony Maggio said. “There’s a lot of people that need.”

Maggio and his wife April founded the operation after they noticed families struggling to pay for their children’s sporting fees.

Kids shouldn’t be denied the opportunity to stay active and participate in healthy, social activities with their peers just because their families can’t afford the cost of uniforms and team travel, he said.

“We want them off the couch, off the video games and involved,” Maggio said.

As a youngster, Maggio played football and his children now continue the family tradition. Anthony, 15, plays on the Oak Harbor High School team, and 6-year-old Sawyer plays Pee Wee.

Through his sons’ participation in local sports teams and as a the head coach of the Oak Harbor Bobcats Pee Wee football team, Maggio’s seen first-hand the restrictions placed on families that don’t have the funds to pay for recreation. That’s where the assistance provided by My Father’s House comes in.

The 1,800 square-foot space, formerly a print shop, wasn’t much to look at when the project began, Tony Maggio said. After two months of restoration work the corner shop is now a bright and inviting storefront thanks to a lot of hard work and material donations from Frontier Lumber.

Living Faith Christian Center and Assemblies of God also helped the Maggio’s by lending a hand and through donations.

Earlier this month, on opening day, the whole parking lot was full, said Tony.

All staff are volunteers and the thrift shop accepts donations of clean, gently used items like books, music, games, toys, clothes, housewares and glassware during open hours, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

My Father’s House Community Thrift is located at 40 NE Midway Blvd. Visit www.myfathersthrift.weebly.com, or email for more information.