It’s sure to be a destination for bargain hunters, and it is coming to Ontario, bringing with it the promise of unexpected finds, affordable merchandise, and a chance to support community programs with every purchase.
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana will celebrate the grand opening of its newest VOA Thrift Store on Thursday, November 19, at 9:00 AM. The store is located at 876 N. Lexington-Springmill Road in Ontario, adding another shopping option to one of Richland County’s busiest retail corridors. The site is the former location of the Grocery Outlet, just north of Barnes and Noble.
The opening celebration will feature giveaways, raffles, prizes, and opportunities for shoppers to explore the new store’s selection of secondhand merchandise. The event is free and open to the public.
Another Place To Hunt For Treasures
For shoppers who enjoy the unpredictability of a thrift store, the Ontario location will offer a new place to search for clothing, household goods, accessories, and other donated merchandise.
Unlike traditional retail stores, where merchandise is ordered in advance and stocked in predictable quantities, thrift stores depend on a constantly changing supply of donated items. That means shoppers can encounter everything from everyday necessities to unusual collectibles and household furnishings. VOA Thrift stores typically carry clothing, shoes, books, furniture, housewares, and home décor. The nonprofit also promotes regular discounts, including rotating sale tags offering 25%, 50%, and 75% reductions.
Its established promotions include a half-price sale on the last Tuesday of each month, although specific promotions at the new Ontario store have not yet been announced.
The Ontario opening also comes just ahead of the holiday shopping season, when secondhand stores can offer alternatives for shoppers looking for decorations, gifts, winter clothing, and household items without paying full retail prices.
Mansfield Store Will Remain Open
The new Ontario location represents an expansion of VOA’s retail presence in Richland County rather than a replacement for its existing Mansfield store. The organization already operates a thrift store at 1280 Park Avenue West in Mansfield, near Kroger, where customers can shop for donated merchandise and contribute items for resale.
According to information shared in connection with the Ontario opening, the Mansfield location will remain open, giving area residents two VOA shopping destinations. The Ontario store is also creating employment opportunities. Volunteers of America has advertised both full-time and part-time merchandise associate positions for the new location, along with assistant management and donation-handling positions.
Those jobs include assisting customers, organizing merchandise, receiving donated items, and helping manage day-to-day store operations. An assistant manager advertisement listed hourly pay ranging from $15 to $19, depending on experience.
Shopping That Supports A Larger Mission
Although bargains may bring customers through the doors, VOA’s thrift stores serve a broader purpose. Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana operates its retail locations as nonprofit enterprises, using proceeds from donated merchandise to help support programs serving veterans, families, and individuals facing difficult circumstances.
The organization’s work extends into housing assistance, employment services, addiction recovery, behavioral health, and programs designed to help people regain stability and independence. According to the organization, its programs reach more than 18,000 people across Ohio and Indiana.
That mission also has a presence in Richland County. In Mansfield, VOA operates residential reentry programs for men and women at 921 and 923 North Main Street, respectively. These programs help individuals transitioning from incarceration with supervision, support, and preparation for returning to their communities. The organization’s wider network also assists veterans seeking stable housing and employment, along with individuals and families confronting homelessness and other challenges
Donations Keep The Shelves Stocked
The thrift store model depends on donations, and VOA encourages residents to contribute clothing and household goods they no longer need. The organization accepts a wide range of gently used merchandise and offers donation drop-off options through its stores and collection sites. Donation hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For residents who prefer not to transport donations themselves, VOA also provides a home pickup service in a number of North Central Ohio communities, including Mansfield, Ontario, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Bellville, and Mount Gilead. Pickup arrangements can be made through the organization’s donation service at 1-800-873-4505.
The nonprofit also maintains donation collection boxes in several surrounding communities, including Galion and Shelby. Beyond their financial contribution to the organization, donations keep usable clothing, furniture, and household goods circulating rather than being discarded.
Opening Day Details
Visitors can expect a celebration built around shopping, giveaways, raffles, and prizes, although the organization has not provided a detailed schedule of activities or announced specific prize packages.
VOA’s established thrift stores generally operate from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday. Regular operating hours for the Ontario location have not yet been separately confirmed.
Additional information about the organization, its thrift stores, and donation services is available at voaohin.org/thrift. For Richland County shoppers, the new store promises another opportunity to discover something useful, unusual, or unexpectedly valuable. And for Volunteers of America, each purchase represents something beyond a sale: another contribution toward the programs and services at the heart of its mission.
Photo: VOA – Ohio and Indiana