Iowa City thrift store will provide revenue, create jobs

Twenty years ago, Ron Schieffer took a leap of faith when he launched Reach for Your Potential, a non-profit organization that provides residential services and adult day care for people with disabilities.

On July 26, Schieffer will take another step into the unknown when Potentially Yours, a thrift store, opens its doors at 1705 S. First Ave.

“It's an idea that I have been thinking about for several years,” said Schieffer, executive director of Reach for Your Potential, which provides services to about 125 consumers in its residential program and another 50 in its adult day care facility.

“I think it's good to have another source of revenue and provide vocational opportunities for the consumers in our residential program.”

Schieffer said Medicaid funding, which provides the majority of Reach for Your Potential's revenue, will be cut by about 2.5 percent or $150,000 this fiscal year.

“We will need to clear about $175,000 this year to make up for the loss of Medicaid funds and pay the other costs associated with the store,” he said. “We were able to negotiate a lower rent for the store because it had been sitting vacant for a while.”

Schieffer said Potentially Yours will have a full-time manager and assistant manager supervising 10 to 15 consumers with disabilities working at the store.

“We will do supportive employment under the Medicaid waiver,” Schieffer said, “It will be an enclave where they will have a job coach working with three to five individuals. It may be a janitorial enclave where they will clean the store or possibly a sorting and pricing enclave.”

Potentially Yours accepts donations of “gently used” items from the community. Schieffer said large appliances and used box springs and mattresses will not be accepted and all donations must be made during store operating hours.

“We're investigating what to do with clothing that is left over,” he said. “Our goal is to have items come in and move out fairly quickly. We don't want to have to pay for landfilling items that we can't use.”

Potentially Yours will be competing for donations and customers with Goodwill of the Heartland and Salvation Army. Schieffer believes the store can be successful if merchandise is priced competitively.

“I've researched the competition in terms of their pricing,” he said. “I think we can be competitive at the low end of the market.

“I've put a lot of time and effort into getting the store started. Our board and I feel it offers an excellent opportunity for our consumers to gain workplace experience and generate additional operating revenue.”

Schieffer said parents of consumers have offered to volunteer time in the store. Potentially Yours also is looking for community volunteers willing to work a few hours each week.

“I think it's going to be a lot of fun,” Schieffer said. “Our consumers are really looking forward to working there. We're hoping it will provide them with skills they can use at other employers in the community.”