By RONDA GREGORY
News & Journal Staff Writer
The premier project of the Clarksburg League for Service -Amy’s Attic – marked 10 years in March serving those in need throughout Harrison County. The League itself celebrated its 80th year in 2014.
Amy’s Attic, located in the Glen Elk section of Clarksburg, is a place with a true store design where qualified people can shop for life’s necessities amid a fun shop-like atmosphere. Amy’s Attic provides free needed personal and household items to qualifying people in Harrison County who are referred by participating social service agencies and schools. Those referred receive vouchers with points allotments, which are then used as currency to shop at the Attic.
Jaclyn Rominger, League President, said Amy’s Attic is their main project, and more than half of the organization’s budget goes to stock, operate and maintain it. All workers are volunteers. She noted that last year when she was Vice President and led the fund-raising program, the League raised about $64,000.
Amy’s Attic served nearly 2,000 clients last year, which doesn’t include some of their special outreach programs, such as school backpacks and winter coats for school children, and home-warming baskets for those who had been without homes.
Rominger said the League both depends upon and is grateful for the support they get from others.
“The generosity of those in Harrison County really amazed me during my fund-raising efforts last year. The amount of people we are able to help as a volunteer agency is amazing.”
Mary Ann Spadafore, chairman of Amy’s Attic, said the beauty of the project is that it allows people to actually shop, rather than being handed a bag of goods.
“They can pick off the rack,” she explained. “It’s like real shopping. It helps their pride and maintains their dignity.”
Items available to qualified, referred shoppers include everything from diapers, everyday clothing for the whole family, career clothing, and household cleaning supplies to personal hygiene items such as soap, deodorant and shampoos.
Spadafore said working for Amy’s Attic is rewarding as a volunteer.
“It helps us to help the working poor because they need to cloth their children. We provide what they can’t always get for themselves or get elsewhere. We fill in the gap.”
The idea for the name of the project derived from the founder of the League, Amy Roberts Vance. Members envisioned her scouring her own attic for needed goods to give to others. What better name for their new project than Amy’s Attic?
For those wanting to make a donation of funds or goods for Amy’s Attic, call the League at (304) 624-5006. All donations are tax deductible.
Spadafore said the League appreciates everyone’s help. “We couldn’t do it without the community’s support,” she concluded.
