125 Volunteers Power Island Thrift Shop Giving $250K Away

A young girl once asked her mother what happens behind the loading dock at Granny's Attic thrift store. "That's where the magic happens," her mother replied, and she wasn't exaggerating.

For more than five decades, 125 volunteers have been the invisible force turning one person's castoffs into community lifelines on Vashon Island. Behind the scenes each morning before doors open, volunteers sort books, test electronics, repair clocks, and prepare clothing for the sales floor in what Executive Director Brian Vescovi calls "mildly controlled chaos."

The results speak for themselves. Granny's Attic generated over $1 million in sales last year, distributing nearly $250,000 in grants to local nonprofits. The volunteers themselves decide where the money goes, supporting organizations from food banks to senior centers.

One volunteer comes in weekly just to fix clocks. Another manages the entire book section. Someone else handles collectibles. As they work, laughter and conversation fill the back rooms, creating more than just a volunteer shift.

"We don't exist without our volunteers," Vescovi said. "They are the heart of Granny's."

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond bargain shopping. Since 1976, Granny's has donated over $2.2 million to funded projects across the island. That money has paid for flu shot clinics, medical care for those unable to afford it, training programs at the community care center, and two annual $1,000 scholarships for high school graduates.

The shop now employs eight full-time and four part-time staff to support the volunteer army. But Vescovi insists the volunteers aren't just helping, they're building something bigger. Granny's has become a community hub where people connect while making a tangible difference.

"There are a lot of ways you can give your time," he said. "This is a way for our volunteers to be connected to others. They get to make a big impact in their community. And honestly, it's fun."

The steady stream of donations keeps flowing in, and volunteers keep transforming them into funding for the next community need, proving that one little girl's observation was exactly right.