The Betty Griffin Thrift Store sits at the corner of A1A and 312, in a run-down little shopping plaza that also houses a Dollar General, a pawn shop, a bait and tackle store, a gym, and a few other places no one goes into.

Betty Griffin Thrift Store opened in this place sometime around 1999, if my memory serves me correctly. It was a Winn-Dixie until 1998, when they built their own place a couple of miles south and vacated the plaza. The storefront was split in half, and Betty Griffin Thrift Store took the south side.

I have no actual idea if a Betty Griffin Thrift Store existed before then, but I do know from then on, it’s been an important fixture in our community.

They have everything you’d expect – clothing, furniture, books, home decor, appliances, electronics, artwork, and much more. It’s laid out in sections, and they do a pretty good job of making everything presentable and keeping most things fairly priced. There are constantly volunteers moving things in and out, and the inventory is updated daily.

The inventory is donated. In the back of the store is the donation area, and it’s packed full of stuff. There’s an endless stream of people dropping off stuff, and not nearly enough space in the store or volunteers to put it all away. A lot of stuff donated should never have been; as a result the dumpsters get filled frequently.

The donations make the store happen, like most thrift shops. Except here, it’s not going to the owner and employees, here it goes to the Betty Griffin Center, a domestic violence hotline and shelter. The Center provides so many great things to our community, from education services to housing services to counselling services and so much more. Every single city should be fortunate to have a place like the Betty Griffin Center, so knowing the thrift store purchase funds that make it even more important. I saved money by buying something used, I saved space in the landfill, and I contributed money to help someone find a better path. It’s a win, all the way around.

It’s not perfect. But it’s a thrift store, with a goal of generating money to help people who need it. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it has to work. And it does.

Support Betty Griffin Thrift Store when you’re in St. Augustine, and make a difference for someone who desperately needs it.

Visit 1961 A1A South St. Augustine, FL 32080