Marge and Ron Quick volunteered to take on the task of revamping and reopening the Sachse Senior Center gift shop.
The Sachse Senior Center has a new gem inside the facility; a gift shop with a unique assortment of gifts that are guaranteed to give back.
And although the shop concept isn’t new to the senior center; it was closed and revamped after several years in operation.
Senior Activity Center Manager Robin Woodward said she initially considered closing the gift shop permanently, however, California transplants and frequent senior center visitors Ron and Marge Quick volunteered to take it over.
The couple moved to the Lone Star State five years ago and currently reside in Wylie.
“We like the weather better in California,” Ron said. “But our son and grandkids moved here.”
Just six weeks after starting from scratch, the couple had the grand reopening for the gift shop Wednesday, June 26. In addition to being the new organizers of the gift shop, most of the handmade merchandise in stock was created by the couple.
“We do woodworking, ceramics, stained glass and sewing,” Ron said.
The gift shop offers a plethora of giftable wares; a birdhouse shaped like a boy climbing a tree, retractable puzzle boards, hanging cloth trash “pods” for cars with cute designs, wooden crosses, quilts, cornhole boards and ceramic plates, cups and saucers among others.
The shop also sells potato bags, special bags for microwaving potatoes or corn on the cob in four minutes.
“It’s amazing,” Ron said. “We have corn on the cob every night.”
Other senior center regulars donated additional items like jewelry and stuffed animals. The Quicks are hoping to get more donations to keep the shop running. All proceeds from sales are donated to the senior center and 5 Loaves Food Pantry.
Ron and Marge volunteer their time, effort and the cost of materials because the senior center helped them make new friends in Texas, they said.
“We do most of our socializing here,” Ron said. “We figured we could at least get it up and going. Hopefully this stuff sells.”
They also needed something to do and enjoy keeping busy, Marge added, and keeping the gift shop open will take constant work.
“We’re creating new items and in two months we’ll have to start putting out holiday stuff,” Marge said. “I’m thinking about making some adult bibs.”
The shop isn’t just for those who frequent the senior center. It’s important to bring people in from the outside, said Ron. He has been spreading the word on social media, including Facebook groups and online marketplaces, and they have received many responses.
“Ron made these birdfeeders and listed them on Facebook,” Woodward said. “A lady came and bought all of them. And she said she would’ve bought more.”
The shop is open at the senior center, located at 3815 Sachse Road, Building A, during regular senior center hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. For now, purchases are cash or check only.
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