the other volunteers. Ms. Loose told me that even the volunteers who man the non-profit’s food truck love to have a chance to help in the sorting. By concentrating on certain classes of items and rejecting others, the Second Going store can maintain a high profile among discriminating shoppers. You won’t see old sofas and mattresses at Second Going. You will see pretested electronics, small appliances, lamps, kitchenware, entertainment items such as DVDs and books, chic bric-a-brac and decor, and many racks of gently-used clothes. Bonnie Norris, a beachcomber who loves to search for shark teeth along Crystal Beach, told me that the combination of variety, quality, and affordability of ladies’ summer wear at Second Going is hard to beat. Due to the constant movement of goods in and out of the Second Going, shoppers never know what they’ll find. In the spring of 2016, I found an almost-new book by Chef Martin Yan on wok cookery that re-ignited my interest in Chinese dishes. This summer, as if designed to complement last year’s find, I picked up a beautiful, topgrade wok in great condition at Second Going! Fran Griffin—General Manager, Second Going Site Coordinator, and enthusiastic booster—told me that to increase the store’s attractiveness its goods change with the seasons. This strategy is made possible by seasonal and quarterly “clean-out sales” where most items are marked down to 25 cents. When I am vacationing on Bolivar, I never miss one of these sales. Shoppers with fond memories of browsing at the Second Going saw to a quick recovery after Hurricane Ike devastated Bolivar. Van loads of donations, some from as far away as Iowa, came in simply through wordof-mouth. Today, the Second Going has a much bigger presence owing to Facebook and other websites. However, word-of-mouth “advertising” from regular shoppers and vacationers stopping by for the first time still means a lot. As Jane Loose tells me, “It’s not just that Second Going is the only resale shop on the peninsula, it’s that shopping here is truly a unique experience.” tL
...volunteers successfully manage the tiny store and provide high quality, carefully-screened goods to the public.
VINCE BRACH is a teacher, naturalist, and writer from Tyler. His articles feature in dozens of publications including Texas Highways, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Highlights for Children. He has vacationed on Bolivar Peninsula for over 30 years. Contact him at vbrach@sbcglobal.net
November/December 2017
theLOCAL
| 25