A Mission on Main Street
BY CAMMIE WRIGHT
cammie@nordaknorth.com
Situated on Main Street in Turtle Lake, the Community Clothing Share Exchange opens its doors from noon to 6 pm on Thursdays. The well-kept shop, with neatly filled racks organized by size, gender, and age has occupied its Main Street location since 2018. The Share Exchange doesn’t charge customers for any items. A free-will donation is accepted, but never expected. The Share Exchange’s approach
seems to be working. When it opened in the basement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in January 2017, 63 articles (items) were sent out. In December of 2017, 324 items left with appreciative recipients. In 2021, 1,594 items went out in January, and 2,160 items in December – marking an incredible increase in both traffic and donations over the past five years. The non-profit shop front features name brand items, some brand new, and prides itself on displaying quality items for its guests. For example, as I perused the racks while my interviewee Karen Boyko chatted with a customer, I found some real gems. A couple Chico’s blouses my mom would love. A fun sun dress from the Limited. And an incredible pair of brown men’s dress shoes that are worth much more than the asking price of free.
