OFFICIALS ATTEND THRIFT STORE REOPENING

The Teen Challenge Thrift Store is back in business.

A grand re-opening of the business Tuesday attracted a large turnout of city, state and chamber officials, and Teen Challenge of America representatives, including the group's Auxiliary members and volunteers.

The store, which sells mostly used clothing, furnishings, toys, books and miscellaneous items, was founded in June 1979 by the Teen Challenge Auxiliary. It re-opened at 17 N. Middle.

The previous store, at 10 N. Sprigg, and contents were destroyed by a fire in mid-July.

"We had a quiet opening last month," said Jack Smart, executive director of Teen Challenge International of Mid-America. "We had a lot of work to do here."

The new store was packed with merchandise for Tuesday's grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

On hand for the occasion were Smart, Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III, Chamber of Commerce President John Mehner, Teen Challenge board president Harold Kuehle, state Sen. Peter Kinder and state Rep. Mary Kasten.

Also at the grand opening were other Teen Challenge board members and a number of volunteers and auxiliary members, including auxiliary president Virginia Perry.

"We're proud to have this store back in the community," said Spradling. "Teen Challenge is a wonderful effort to get young men `back in touch' with their lives."

The store, said Smart and Kuehle, is a valuable source of funds for the Teen Challenge of Mid America about five miles north of Cape Girardeau.

"Over the years, the store has provided the Teen Challenge campus with a water-softener system, commercial cooking facilities, ice machines, food donations and other items," said Smart.

Teen Challenge, which was established almost 30 years ago, offers helping hands to young men who turned there for help to overcome addiction to drugs and alcohol and other life-controlling problems. Teen Challenge has helped almost 3,000 men, with 70 percent of the students remaining chemically free many years after graduation.

"We currently have 118 men and a staff of 25 at the Teen Challenge campus," said Smart. "The auxiliary is a must for our existence."

Some 36 members make up the auxiliary and volunteer group.

"We try to have three or four workers here every day," said Perry. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday.

With its capacity, Teen Challenge provides about 10,000 meals a month.

"And we're getting ready to open a new dorm at the campus," said Kuehle. "Our student count will go up to about 138 at that time."

"We've had great cooperation from the community," said Smart. "It's just unbelievable how much stuff people have donated for the thrift shop."

The new store has about twice the floor space of the original store, at 6,500 square feet.

"But you can see that the store has filled up fast," said Smart.