In July 2017, the thrift store on Main Street opened up to the public, the store is owned by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Unlike most stores, this one doesn't have employees, but rather volunteers that belong with the VFW. With no employees all of the profit goes toward helping veterans, the co-founders being Sarah Maddox Dunn and Ed Dunn.
“The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a patriotic organization that is composed of people who have fought in combat zone we currently have someone from every war dating back to World War II,” said commander Fred Hill. “We have a meeting every Thursday at 7 p.m.”
Recently the store decided to start accepting Lancer Cash to help encourage shoppers in the store and also to create a closer relationship with the school. Sarah Dunn, co-founder, says that about 10-15 students come in every weekday and on weekends there are even more students.
“Students can volunteer, and if a student needs an internship we can provide that,” said Dunn. “A girl came into the store earlier this semester and talked to us about Lancer Cash, and we thought it was great."
This thrift store has more than just the VFW as sponsors, also the Piedmont Area Veterans Council (PAVC) shares the store. For both groups it's important to help as many veterans as possible in the best way possible. Even so, eventually Dunn and others would like to make enough profit to start paying employees and to be able to host paid internships for students.
“That is what we are about, trying to help those who served, we are a forgotten bunch but it has gotten better,” said vice president of PAVC, Dennis Merkle.
Money raising places such as the thrift store make it possible for groups such as VFW and PAVC to help veterans downs on their luck. For Merkle his hearing was improved in March 2017 through a cochlear implant, he had lost his hearing in 2002. But the initial injury was from his time serving while he shot off a 106 recoils rifle.
“He was able to hear his grandson for the first time after the cochlear implant,” said Dunn. “It really brought him out of his shell as well.”
Dunn, Merkle and Frank Medlin are determined to keep the store opened; Medlin has said that the store will stay open as long as he is around. The store will stay open as long as there is a volunteer or someone to work the store. With the profits from the store used to help veterans with their injuries and their housing.
“I mean a veteran is a veteran to me, no matter what, whether they are male, female or transgender,” said Dunn.
By the store accepting Lancer Cash, it doesn’t just bring the store closer with the university and students, but also young veterans at the school. Dunn and Medlin hope to reach as many young veterans attending Longwood as possible.
