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By Ashley Daniels
Retail therapy can also have charitable benefits. For instance, every time you purchase something at Rescued Treasures in Pawleys Island, you are supporting All4Paws, a local animal rescue organization.
Rickie Goldberg recently took over as director of Rescued Treasures, which has been open for six years, to oversee the all-volunteer staff.
“Everything we have in the store is donated,” she says.
The upscale boutique accepts donations of clean and good-condition women’s apparel and accessories, indoor furniture, home décor and kitchen accessories, books, and board games.
“We have a wonderful book room and two primary volunteers who just focus on the books, so it’s beautifully done,” says Goldberg. “A hardback book is $2, and paperbacks are two for a dollar.”
There are several ways to donate items to Rescued Treasures: You can bring donations to the rear of the storefront Tuesday through Saturday between noon and 3 p.m., fill out the donation form online for bigger items, such as furniture, or schedule a furniture pickup.
Goldberg says that even if donations do not pass their strict inspection to sell in the store, nothing goes to waste.
“We have other charities that we donate to that are just thrilled with the things that we have given them because abject poverty is so extreme,” she says. “There’s always a need, and they’re tremendously thankful.”
Prices on women’s apparel at Rescued Treasures range from $8 up to $20 for Lily Pulitzer or Chico’s labels, and Goldberg says they always try to offer some sort of weekly sale. The success of the boutique is proven in the fact that they outgrew the confines of their one storefront and eventually took over the one next door after the neighboring business owner moved out. It’s also proven by the donations the store has made to All4Paws over the past six years, which Goldberg says easily exceeds six figures, several times over.
“The vision is to keep it going – and growing,” she says, adding that they are always looking for volunteers to keep up with donations.
“We have a fabulous time,” says Goldberg. “All you need to do is come in and see how much fun everybody has. We just ask that they help in four-hour shifts.”
Goldberg, who adopted her Anatolian Shepherd dog from All4Paws and her Blue Heeler from an organization in the upstate, is a big believer in dog rescues.
“It’s very close to my heart,” she says. “I was on the board of a shelter many years ago and actually served as president of the board at one point when we built a multimillion-dollar shelter. I’ve been an animal lover all my life.”
Since 2011, All4Paws has rescued more than 20,000 dogs and cats, placing over 13,000 in their forever homes and transferring nearly 8,000 to other rescues for adoption. The mission of its volunteers and staff is to rescue, repair, rehabilitate, and care for animals that have been abused, threatened, or abandoned.
All4Paws’ Fifth Annual Online Auction Fundraising Event, which will run from September 25 through October 5, will involve Rescued Treasures by having items up for bid on display in the store toward the end of the auction window.
“All4Paws volunteers will also come here during that time to answer any questions people may have on the online bidding and more,” says Goldberg.
Rescued Treasures is located at 11378 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island (across from The Fresh Market). For more information and updates on All4Paws, or to fill out a donation or volunteer form, visit www.all4pawssc.org.