By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer
Gloria Barkley of Lakewood is the manager of the Habitat for Humanity store, Freehold Borough.
FREEHOLD — There’s a new used furniture store in town, one which sells merchandise for a fraction of what it sold for new.
The Habitat for Humanity store opened its doors on Nov. 1 at 45 Throckmorton Street, and according to manager Gloria Barkley, business is "great." In fact, Barkley said getting inventory in the store is not a problem. Where to store all of the donations is, however, becoming a consideration.
"There’s a real need for this type of store here in Freehold," said Barkley, who is a resident of Lakewood.
She said the borough location is the first Habitat for Humanity store in Monmouth County.
Habitat for Humanity is a volunteer organization that rehabilitates old homes and builds new residences for working families that might not otherwise be able to afford to buy a home. The families that receive a home are required to participate in the construction process and invest what the organization terms "sweat equity."
At the Habitat store, wooden tables and chairs, some large, some small, some with matching hutches, line one wall, while sofas and "occasional" pieces like end tables and a large fish aquarium line another. Furniture styles run the gamut from traditional to modern.
The items in the store are described by Barkley as being "gently used."
"I’m a yard sale shopaholic," she laughed. "I pretty much know how to price things so that they will sell, and sell quickly."
And she’s doing just that. She said the merchandise in the store has had several turnovers since the doors opened.
The only furniture that remains from the opening-day stock is a large Early American dark pine dining room table and four matching chairs. With its companion hutch and sideboard, the set is just too large for most of Barkley’s clientele.
"Many people would like to buy it, but they just don’t have the room," she said.
Barkley, who recently retired from Verizon, is at the store at least three days a week. She’s the only paid person on staff. All other staff members volunteer their time regularly.
Volunteering seems to be a "family affair" at the Habitat for Humanity store. Barkley’s husband, Fletcher, now retired from AT&T, is around quite a bit to help his wife and the customers as well. He does a great deal of the lifting and moving. Although Barkley said Habitat volunteers will pick up furniture, it is much easier if patrons who wish to donate furniture would deliver it right to the store.
Barkley’s sister-in-law, Candy Storey, lives in Neptune. Besides devoting herself to her work as a minister at the Mount Zion House of Prayer Church, she is also a regular volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity store. In addition to bringing herself to the store, Storey also brings her knowledge of Spanish. She speaks Spanish fluently and Barkley said that is a tremendous asset to the staff.
"Many of our patrons are Spanish speaking and feel very comfortable when Candy is here," Barkley said.
Volunteering and doing work that helps others seems to come naturally to this caring woman. She’s been doing it for much of her life in various capacities. Watching her work with her customers is an experience. She’s kind, considerate and understanding, as well as knowledgeable about her stock.
"I’ve always loved volunteering," Barkley said. "I love working here with our customers as well. It’s instant gratification. They’re all so grateful and do so appreciate everything that we do for them here."
She’s a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, a community-based organization of active and retired telephone employees, and she still works with other charitable agencies.
Barkley has regular volunteers on staff at the store, like Cindy Horn of Freehold. Horn just happened to walk in to browse around for antiques and ended up staying as a permanent volunteer. Others who just want to help out appear now and again.
All proceeds from the sale of merchandise at the store go to purchase more materials for Habitat for Humanity homes.