Merchants on a Mission

Christian Recovery Center Inc. has a new thrift store in Shallotte, and all of its proceeds will go toward fighting addiction.

The brown brick building on Holden Beach Road in Shallotte, at the corner of Paradise Lane, used to be a thrift store called Castaway’s Cottage.

It still is a thrift store, but the new owner — Christian Recovery Centers Inc. (CRCI) — has an additional purpose for the 7,548-square-foot building when it re-opens in mid-January. The store will help change lives.

Kristin Gettleman is CRCI’s engagement manager, the person who will be the store’s general manager and fundraising coordinator.

“We want you to know that as soon as you walk in you will be greeted, you will have enough time to browse, there will be changing rooms to try on clothes and soft music playing in the background,” she says. “The greatest gift of it all is that every penny you spend in our thrift store is your contribution to helping us fight the illness of addiction one day at a time. We have a 74 percent success rate in our programming.”

CRCI is based in the Brunswick County town of Ash. It is a network of drug and alcohol treatment centers that provides spiritual and educational tools for men and women to transition from CRCI residences toward a substance-free home and work environment. 

There are two men’s centers in Ash and a women’s center called Rose House that opened November 12, 2022, in Calabash. Rose House can accommodate 28 residents and 10 staff members.

“We also have three trade school programs that help bring profit into the nonprofit and also help our residents learn how to be responsible and get up for work every day,” Gettleman says. “We have Workforce Redevelopment Programs in cleaning and sanitization services, landscaping and pressure washing, catering and creations and now, the thrift store, where we can help teach the women business skills. Every penny from the thrift store will help fund and contribute to the newly opened Rose House.”

Residents of CRCI’s recovery centers may take part in one-on-one pastoral counseling, Bible study and small-group settings. They can hear sermons several times each week. The website notes: “CRCI’s spiritual leaders have a heart for those devastated by the illness of addiction. They believe that understanding the power of God’s grace, mercy and love are an integral part of the recovery process; that forgiving, being forgiven, having a humble heart and thanking God for His many blessings are key ingredients for a successful long-term recovery.”

Can you help?

The CRCI Thrift Store on Holden Beach Road needs donations. (No mattresses or car seats, please). The website — crcirecovery.org — has a donation request form. You can drop them off or the center will pick up donations.
“We do have [some] merchandise,” Gettleman says, “But we will need any of your gently used items to help us be successful. We hope you will consider us for your next closet purge, garage purge, estate sale or even your new shopping spot. Thank you for believing in us!”

Christian Recovery Centers Inc. Thrift Store
593 Holden Beach Road, Shallotte
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; closed Sundays
crcirecovery.org