Higher rent only part of the story
By Delayna Earley
The Island News
The Salvation Army Family Store in Beaufort shut its doors for the final time on April 30.
The store had served not only as a second-hand retail store, but also as an additional form of outreach for the nonprofit group to provide jobs in the community, clothing for those in an emergent situation such as loss from a fire and those who need help with clothing due to financial constraints.
“All of the money raised from that store stayed right here in Beaufort and helped those in this community,” said Capt. Wanda Long with the Salvation Army in Beaufort. “
The store ran off donations from the community, said Long.
“Even if they have holes in them, we could rag them out and we would make money off of the rags that went out,” said Long.
Long said that the decision to close the store was not an easy one, nor was it a decision made for one reason.
Rumors have been swirling on social media regarding the reason behind the store’s closing, and Long said that she has seen all of them and none of them hit completely at the truth.
Long said that while one of the reasons that they decided to shut down the store was that the rent on the location was raised, she also said it was not the only reason, and she does not blame the landlord but instead is understanding and said that it is more about the economy.
“You know, everyone has to make a living,” Long said. “This rent is their only income.”
Additionally, Long said that there are repairs that need to be made to the building that cannot be made while there are occupants in the building.
From the Salvation Army’s perspective, Long said that in recent years it has become more and more difficult to find people who are able to work in the store consistently as well, which is an issue that many businesses face.
While the hope is to eventually reopen the store at a different location, Long said that she will not be part of the decision-making process as she has received orders to move from Beaufort County and her position here.
“My husband and I have been given our marching orders to leave Beaufort after seven years, and so the new helm will be the ones to make those decisions when they get here,” said Long.
Long said that her last official day in Beaufort in her position will be June 22.
Long said that while the Family Store was closed, all the other resources that they offer in the community as well as their location on North Street in downtown Beaufort are not going anywhere.
The nonprofit will continue to work with families who need relief with rent and utilities, food with Second Helpings, and helping Beaufort’s homeless population.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
