Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Fall 2012 Issue | Page 27

20 Years at the Schoolhouse Gibson retires from thrift shop ministry Emily Cherry Since 1992, the churches of Region XV in the Diocese of Virginia have joined together in a shared ministry. The Schoolhouse Thrift Shop at Rio Road raises funds for local outreach efforts, in addition to providing low-cost goods to the local community. And for those entire 20 years, Ruth Gibson of Buck Mountain, Earlysville has served as the shop manager. This fall, she prepares for her retirement from the two-decade-long ministry. Gibson was called to the ministry at its inception, when the Rev. Harold Hallock, then rector of Church of Our Saviour, Charlottesville, had the idea to create a joint outreach ministry for the churches that make up Region XV. The thrift shop was born out of that idea. The shop “has probably been the best thing that’s ever happened to this region,” said Gibson. Over half of the churches in Region XV participate, and representatives from the congregations help make up the membership of the Board of Directors. Proceeds from the shop then go to Searching for the right place to retreat? support regional outreach efforts, like Habitat for Humanity, Ministry with the Aging, the Alliance for Interfaith Ministries and more. The building that the shop occupies is situated on land owned by Church of Our Saviour, in a building that served as a schoolhouse from 1870-1941. The building was a private home from 1940 until 1990, when Our Saviour purchased the property. Today, the shop sells items at low cost, and also donates products to families in need who are recommended to the shop by local social service agencies. Folks come to the Schoolhou ͔