It's a store you might not know about. It's been in Roanoke for 17 years and it's made more than $3 million dollars in sales, but the people who work there don't get paid. They're all volunteers.
It is the Discovery Shop in Townside Festival Shopping Plaza on Franklin Road in Roanoke. When you walk inside the Discovery Shop you will discover all sorts of items from shoes and clothing to silver platters and teddy bears. It has everything including the kitchen sink. On the day we visited a stainless steel sink was for sale there.
You'll also find two volunteers who have not let their age stop them from volunteering their time. You see Alice Flynn and Blanche Henning are both in their nineties.
Flynn works most days in the back room at the Discovery Shop sorting through the mounds of donated clothing. "We make sure all the buttons are on, all the zippers work, no spots," Flynn explained.
At 90 years old volunteering is in her blood. "I could never stay home. I love to be out and helping," Flynn said. "I've always been a volunteer. I'm an old veteran from World War Two. I've always done volunteer work."
Behind the counter working the cash register at the Discovery Shop you'll find Blanche Henning ringing up customer's purchases and greeting others who come in the door.
She took a few moments to show us around stopping at a rack of high heeled sandals. "I used to wear high heels but I don't think they were quite that spiky," Henning laughed. "I don't see what keeps people from breaking their necks."
Henning's been volunteering at the Discovery Shop for more than 17 years. She even helped out in the planning phase before it opened. "I like it. I love it," Henning said. "Everybody who works here is nice and the customers are just great."
Both Flynn and Henning agree the cause is great too. All the money raised from sales goes to the American Cancer Society.
"I lost my sister she was only 48 with melanoma and I've lost several dear friends with cancer that I've lost," Flynn said.
Customer Dana Ferguson's mom is a breast cancer survivor. She's leaving with an arm full of clothes. "I bought three shirts. I bought a dress for my daughters wedding," Ferguson said.
For just $51.00 she's also leaving with that warm feeling that goes along with doing something good.
It's something Flynn and Henning feel everyday. "It's just been a real good experience," Flynn said and then she called out to a customer. "We thank you. Come back to see us."
