Marblehead thrift shop looks for new board members

MARBLEHEAD – There’s a search for new board members going on at the Magic Hat Thrift Shop – President Donna Zeff, who has been part of the organization since it began, is hoping to attract people with new ideas for the schools’ fundraising thrift shop.It’s a story that rates a headline because in its fifth year of operation the registered non-profit shop has given $178,000 to the Parent Teacher Organizations of Marblehead’s public schools for enrichment programs."We’ve helped fund so many programs it’s hard to pinpoint one that stands out," Zeff said Sunday. "Marblehead High used our money to help fund the Poets in Residence Program and the Marblehead Veterans Middle School used it for the Rebel Shakespeare programs. The elementary schools have used it for science and art projects.""It all goes for good use, for things that maybe we couldn’t have afforded without the shop."For Zeff and the other board members – Sharen Solomon, Christina Reulbach, Wendy Roworth and Liz Koch (former President Gale Argentine is stepping down from the board) – the other important piece of the shop program is recycling."People bring stuff in and it doesn’t end up at the dump. People re-use things," Zeff said.Argentine and Zeff sent out a call for new board members last week."I’ve been there since the beginning and I’d like to see some new board members," Zeff said, "some people with new ideas."After all, the Magic Hat was the idea of Marbleheader Frances Tully, who heard about a successful thrift shop in Chapel Hill, N.C. from her sister, a schoolteacher, and won approval for the concept from PTOs and the School Committee.Located in a donated space at the rear of the Marblehead Veterans Middle School, the Magic Hat is open Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The shop is managed by experienced retailer Gwenn Terrill and staffed by volunteers from each of the town’s PTOs, one week at a time.Donations of clean clothing, footwear, books, sports equipment, small furniture pieces and small appliances along with children’s books and games are always welcome.