Kennison Spiering and Liandro Escobedo sit in chairs of their choice Thursday at Bridge Street Bargains. Spiering and Escobedo get paid $10 per hour toward school trips or activities.
Liandro Escobedo has grown accustomed to the ringing of a cash register and sifting through merchandise after working at a thrift store throughout the summer.
Escobedo works hard. Any given day since June, He could be spotted inside Bridge Street Bargains, located on Bridge Street across from The Wolf Hotel, working the register, hanging up clothes or performing some other task to benefit the non-profit shop.
“I think it’s great because it helps you a lot, plus it gives you something to do, so you aren’t just watching TV,” he said.
Escobedo has logged more than 500 hours working in the shop, and with it, earned about $5,500 to go toward school-related activities.
Bargain bucks
Bridge Street Bargains rewards its volunteers with $10 per hour of work towards a school-related function or trip. Students can also volunteer at the library or Saratoga Museum and get the same benefit, said Chris Lamprecht, manager at Bridge Street Bargains.
“Any given year, we probably give away $20,000 or so to different programs,” she said.
The profit Bridge Street Bargains makes through sales is given back to the community in some way, Lamprecht said.
Just volunteering
Lamprecht opened Bridge Street Bargains four years ago, she said. But she doesn’t like to think of herself as a manager.
“I just volunteer here just like everyone else,” she said.
Whether she be volunteer or manager, the idea to open a store to give back to the community was Lamprecht’s.
Lamprecht’s passion has always been giving back to kids, she said.
“It has always been for the kids and that is where my heart lays,” she said. “I used to be a child protective service worker, and I had to work a lot of cases with under-privileged and abused children.”
Lamprecht said she hopes working at Bridge Street Bargains helps inspire children.
“That’s part of what this program is about, to try and encourage kids to learn how to work and learn to be responsible,” she said.
Unexpected opportunity
Escobedo said he appreciates the opportunity to work at the thrift store, an opportunity that landed in his lap unexpectedly.
“One day I just walked in there just looking around with my mom and Chris asked me if I could help,” Escobedo said. “I was the first one to start volunteering there, and then I told everybody, so they started volunteering with me.”
Escobedo’s word attracted a few new volunteers, including eighth grader Kennison Spiering.
Spiering said she is saving her money to pay for volleyball trips and Teton Science Camp. Escobedo said he is saving his money earned at the shop for basketball and track trips, plus a trip to a different country, which will be available to Escobedo in high school.
Although Spiering and Escobedo get compensated for working at the thrift store, both enjoy the working experience.
“I think it is fun because you get to meet people,” Spiering said.
Spiering said she enjoys interacting with those who visit the shop. She said she also likes to make coffee for those who visit regularly.
Escobedo said he has fun working with Lamprecht especially.
Although Escobedo and Spiering have busy schedules this school year with activities and classes, they each plan to work at the shop with any extra spare time.
“Whatever time I have, I will try to go to the thrift store,” Escobedo said. “I want to thank Chris for letting us work there.”
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