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Bittersweet Farewell: Two San Antonio Non-Profits Close Their Thrift Shops

Two San Antonio non-profits, Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA) and Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, are closing their thrift shops. The closures mark the end of an era for these community staples, which have provided essential services and support for years.

Key Takeaways

RMYA Thrift Shop: Closing after 41 years, focusing on core mission.
Kym’s Kloset: Shutting down due to economic challenges, after five years in business.
Community Impact: Both shops have significantly contributed to their respective missions and communities.

RMYA Thrift Shop

RMYA Thrift Shop, located off West Avenue and Basse Rd., has been a mainstay in the Dellview neighborhood for over four decades. The shop provided clothing and other essentials to children at RMYA and sold discounted merchandise to the community. All proceeds funded various programs, including the Bridge emergency shelter and Meadowland long-term residential program.

According to Julie Healy, Chief Development Officer for RMYA, the decision to close the thrift shop was made to focus more on their core mission of helping children in crisis. "While our thrift store provided an amazing connection point to our community, it is not central to our mission," Healy said.

The thrift shop started in 1976 as a fundraising tool but has now become less essential due to the agency’s success. The shop will run a 50% off sale and add an extra business day until its closure on September 28. The staff members will be reassigned to other roles within the non-profit, and efforts will be made to find placements for those not staying.

Kym’s Kloset

Kym’s Kloset, operated by Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, is another beloved thrift shop that will be closing its doors. Located inside a shopping center off Blanco and West Avenue, the shop opened five years ago and has since moved to its current location. The economic challenges have made it difficult for the shop to sustain itself.

Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, expressed mixed emotions about the closure. "We saw sales drop significantly. We used to bring in over $1,000 a day in sales. Here, we were lucky if we brought in over $100 a day," Allen said.

During its five years in business, Kym’s Kloset helped raise $60,000 to $75,000 annually to support Eagles Flight’s mission. The shop has assisted with groceries for families, helped women fleeing domestic violence, and even helped bury babies. The closure comes at a time of great need, with the non-profit’s southside outreach center serving record numbers.

Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach will now focus on providing wraparound services at their new Adult Activity Center, The Nest, in addition to other services for people in need. Clothing donations for Kym’s Kloset can still be brought to the southside outreach center.

Community Impact

The closure of these thrift shops is a significant loss for the San Antonio community. Both RMYA Thrift Shop and Kym’s Kloset have played crucial roles in supporting their respective missions and providing essential services to those in need. While the closures mark the end of an era, both non-profits remain committed to their core missions and will continue to serve the community in other ways.