Haven Hospice’s Attic Resale Stores are reopening with new hours and safety precautions after temporarily being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The stores will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The St. Augustine store will open on Monday, June 1; the Gainesville store will open Friday, June 5; the Orange Park store will open Saturday, June 6; the Chiefland store will open Monday, June 8; and the Lake City store will reopen Wednesday, June 10.
Stormy Palmer-Porter, the manager of the Attic stores, says the stores have implemented new protocols to keep the staff, volunteers and customers safe and healthy during the pandemic. New protocols include cleaning and sanitizing more often and requiring masks for all Attic staff, volunteers and shoppers. The Attic’s truck drivers, who pick up large donations for the stores, are also required to wear masks and gloves while adhering to social distancing regulations.
A “welcome station” will be at the front of all stores where customers can sanitize their carts, their hands and put on a mask. The Attic will provide a mask to those who didn’t bring one.
Palmer-Porter also mentioned that the donation process has changed to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and keeping customers, volunteers and staff as safe as possible. The new temporary donation hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Customers will need to put their donations in boxes or hanging racks, then Attic staff or volunteers will put a tarp over the donations. The staff and volunteers will not touch the donations until after 48 hours have passed, and then the staff will wash and disinfect all donations, including clothing.
Palmer-Porter said the volunteers will also have tighter schedules. The stores rely heavily on the work of dedicated volunteers. Their work makes the operation of the stores possible, and sales generated at the Attics financially support the unfunded programs and services that Haven provides to patients and families throughout Haven’s 18 county service area.
“We could not do this without our volunteers, and we would not be able to operate without their help. They really do give a lot,” she said. “As important as earning dollars are, it’s about keeping everyone safe and healthy. We are all so excited to be able to reopen our stores”