United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and The Work Group, along with partners including the Campbell Soup Company, Holman Automotive Group, Investors Bank, Roma Bank, Fulton Bank and the Jewish Community Fund, recently unveiled Thrift Works, an innovative job skills training initiative. The retail venture, located at 3700 Marlton Pike in Pennsauken, will serve as a training center to equip students of The Work Group with valuable, real-life job training and experience – empowering them to build the foundation for lifelong financial stability – while providing an affordable shopping opportunity to the local community.
“[Thrift Works] really hits everybody,” explained Steve Rosen, chair of the Work Group board of trustees, who welcomed guests to the resale boutique’s ribbon cutting last month. “It’s really good for students, it’s good for The Work Group, and it’s good for the community.”
Lori Godorov, executive director, The Work Group, went on to say that Thrift Works is the perfect complement to services provided by The Work Group, which works with young adults, 16-24, who have left school, and helps them to complete their secondary education, earn their high school diploma, and get ready for the world of work.
“Having the opportunity to have real-world work experience on their résumé will be great for them for whatever they do going forward.”
“This is phase one,” added Godorov. “We hope that in six months we will launch an online presence for some of the higher-end merchandise that will teach our kids e-commerce skills. We’re also launching a candle-making business called, ‘Scents of Success,’ that will teach our kids entrepreneurial skills. There are a whole bunch of wonderful things that are going to happen here. We’re so, so excited.”
Pennsauken Mayor John Kneib, who was on hand for the ribbon cutting, said that the new project from The Work Group was a welcome addition to Pennsauken’s business space.
“Thrift Works is a win-win for Pennsauken,” says Kneib. “The store has a lot of great, high-quality items for sale and is great for both the community and the kids that participate in The Work Group program. I think they’ll achieve a lot of success with this.”
