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

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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 ͔