The Hospital Thrift Shop, located at the Sanford House on Federal St. in the 1930s.
Hospital Thrift Shop History
The Thrift Shop was founded when a group of dedicated volunteers established the Thrifty Shop, selling affordable, recycled clothing and household items to benefit the Nantucket Cottage Hospital.
The first monetary donations to the Cottage Hospital were made in 1929 and 1930 for a total of $603 and $603.84 respectively. Mrs. Helen Congdon gathered women in her Monomoy home to knit, sew, hook rugs, and make canned goods and jelly for the purpose of raising funds to support the Island’s hospital. These women formalized their efforts in 1931 by renting St. Paul’s Parish House at 12 Liberty Street and began a proper business called the Hospital Thrift Shop. That year the business netted $3,000. Over time four other locations downtown were rented to house the business.
On September 15, 1944 the women held the first meeting of the Incorporators in which an Agreement of Association and Articles of the Organization under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was enacted and voted upon unanimously. A Board of Directors and Executive Committee were elected, By-laws were approved, and certification was made by the Commissioner of Corporations and the Secretary of the Commonwealth. A new Nantucket business corporation founded by women was created.
In 1945, the property at 17 India Street was purchased by the Board of Directors for $7,500. A permanent home for the Hospital Thrift Shop became a reality. The business has flourished successfully for 90 years and more than $5,000,000 has been donated to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital for the purpose of supporting the purchase of medical equipment and general improvement for quality health care for all. That sum includes a donation of $500,000 to the Capital Building Campaign in 2018.
Devoted volunteers, staff, donors and shoppers are responsible for this thriving enterprise which provides affordable clothing, books, furniture and an array of merchandise. The Hospital Thrift Shop boasts being the first recycling business on Island and one of Nantucket’s first not-for-profits. It is also one of the oldest and longest lasting businesses on Island. Everyone who is a part of this wonderful organization takes pride in serving the citizens of our community and providing financial support to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital.
