April 11, 2019
Vol. 19, No. 46
In This Issue DIRECTIONS
Directions, by Joe Slack, in real life is located in front of OnCue, at 15th and I-35, 4100 E. 15th Street, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email c o n te s t @ e d m o n d p a p e r. c o m with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
Spring into Health and Fitness 2019 See Pages 17-20 PHOTOS BY MELINDA INFANTE
Top, from right to left: Tabitha Moran, cashier, job coach, Robert Alan Hill, employee, Sandi Miles, Thrift Stores Manager and Bonnie Wells, Executive Director Bottom: Susan Ingham and Luanne Howell volunteer workers for EARC
FRIDAY, APRIL 12 Mostly Sunny High 61° Low 40°
SATURDAY, APRIL 13 PM Rain High 55° Low 41°
SUNDAY, APRIL 14 AM Showers High 65° Low 45°
By Mallery Nagle Bonnie Wells, the executive director of EARC, Inc., (Employment and Residential Centers) says her organization is the bestkept secret in Edmond. As the group that serves Oklahomans with development disabilities marks its 50th anniversary this year, Wells hopes her secret will finally get out. “Our mission is to provide a better quality of life and encourage greater independence to individuals with developmental disabilities,” she said. “We need to value the contributions of those with disabilities. They can have a productive life.” EARC serves some 60 people, either through employment opportunities, residential accommodations or both. The organization is partially supported though the revenue generated by three area thrift shops located in Edmond at 94 E. 15th and 100 E. 3rd (the original location that opened in 1970)
and at 1408 E. Oklahoma in Guthrie. “I love to shop at our stores,” Wells admitted. “We have some nice stuff.” The stores feature furniture, vintage and specialty clothing and antiques, among many other items. Wells said they have received old-style phonographs, unusual clocks and armoires. Camping equipment and other outdoor items are displayed at an outdoor area at the 3rd Street location. Furniture, she noted, is popular these days, as refurbishing and repurposing old items is a trend. She recently purchased a donated china cabinet for herself. “It’s gorgeous,” she said. “It was in mint condition with the original hardware. I could not have afforded to even buy the hardware new,” pointing to the fact that everything is sold below true market value. Although donations are distributed among the three locations, each store has
some specialty areas. She is also proud of the home décor items the shops offer. In particular, they boast an abundance of large, framed artwork. There is so much artwork, in fact, that a volunteer built a display rack to showcase all of the pieces. Wells pointed out that the large frames themselves are very valuable and would be quite costly if purchased new in a retail store. “I want to say a huge thank-you to the volunteers who process the donations to get the best price for things,” she said. She estimates there are dozens of volunteers who process, clean, sort, price and put all donations in logical display groups in the stores. She pointed to fact that all three stores are very well organized, making it easy for shoppers to “treasure hunt.” Volunteers look up typical prices of items on line, and then they apply deep discounts. “That continued on Page 5