A big sale sign at the corner of Route 111 and Church Street beckoned shoppers to the Mustard Seed Thrift Shoppe at Monroe Congregational Church on Friday afternoon.
Inside, Gail Mas of Monroe checked out a rack full of shirts. Everything was on sale for 25 cents.
"I stop here as much as I can," Mas said. "This is the best store in town. The prices are better than Goodwill and this supports church missions."
Gay Muizulis, a volunteer working at the store, said proceeds benefit church missions and community organizations such as the Monroe Food Pantry.
"The Mustard Seed Shoppe mostly has books and household items, but mainly clothing," she said. "We've been here more than 30 years. We have awfully good sales, and at the end of the season we finally end up giving it all away."
Currently, everything is on sale for 25 cents with the exception of certain items that are full price. But Muizulis said regular prices include $3 for men's dress shirts, $3 for shoes, $6 for bathrobes and $5 for sweaters.
Most of the merchandise is gently used and Muizulis said donations may be brought to the shop, adding receipts are given out for income tax write offs.
The Mustard Seed Shoppe's name derives from Matthew 17:20 in the Bible: "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
The Mustard Seed Thrift Shop is open Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call before visiting at 203-268-4879.
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