Aggie’s Attic, a mission project of Laurel Park United Method Church, is helping out local charities and improving the lives of families in the community.

The non-profit is a thrift store in the Laurel Park Shopping Center that provides low-priced items that have been donated by the church and other members of the Henrico community to help in need families or other residents in the area. All of the proceeds go to charitable organizations, school programs, or families that have crucial needs.

“It’s a store that is in mission to help others,” said Rev. Dean Pittman of Laurel Park UMC.

Agnes Dalton, a member of the congregation, came to Pittman in June of last year to suggest ways of giving back to the community.

The church opened the thrift store in October of last year after about 16 people of the 37 regular attendees at the church stepped up to help. The store has a wide range of donated goods available such as furniture, beds, books, clothes, knick knacks, non-perishable food items, and household items.

“We needed to be a church that was active in the community,” said Pittman.

All of the proceeds that Aggie’s Attic makes go to local charities. Aggie’s Attic has been able to donate to the Christmas Mother, the Henrico Rescue Squad, Henrico Humane Society, The Food Bank and other organizations.

“We’ve given books to schools having book fairs and helped daycares and the Special Olympics in the region,” Pittman said.

Proceeds from the store recently funded two $500 scholarships to two seniors at the Hermitage Technical Center, and Pittman says the organization plans to give away two more soon.

Besides donating to other non-profits in the area, Aggie’s Attic also provides for families and children in desperate need of clothes, food and other items.

This year it began giving away meals for a weekend to 15 children at Elizabeth Holladay Elementary School and Lakeside Elementary..

“If we know of a need in the community, we try and meet it,” said Pittman.

For the upcoming holidays, the members of Aggie’s Attic hope to give away two $100 gift cards to two families to help them celebrate Christmas.

“We’re trying to find ways in whatever we’ve been blessed with to give back,” Pittman said.

The store isn’t in need of any particular items at this time, but it always needs volunteers. Currently it has only two to four each day.

"The more volunteers we have, the more we can stay open,” said Pittman. The store is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for limited hours.

To donate or become a volunteer for Aggie’s Attic, call Laurel Park UMC at 266-6520 or Aggie’s Attic at 262-5054.