Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2012 Issue | Page 29

FIFTY YEARS OF PENNYWISE
DOTTIE STONE
What is 50 years old, operates totally on “volunteer power” and provides
thousands of dollars each year to its church, its community and the Diocese?
The Pennywise Thrift Shop, an outreach program of Holy Comforter, Vienna,
commemorated its 50th anniversary this fall with a celebration spanning several
days of events.

Founded in 1961, Pennywise was
the brainchild of Lillian Croy, chairman
of the Ways and Means Committee
of the church’s Women’s Auxiliary. A
forward-thinking woman, Croy proposed
that instead of endless bake sales and
bazaars, the women should establish
one major fundraising enterprise. She
believed a thrift shop could also serve
as an important source of outreach to
the community, providing good quality
merchandise in attractive surroundings
with dignity and for very little money.
Croy convinced people to support her
idea and received a small loan from the
church women. Pennywise opened for
business on Friday, November 3, 1961 in
a small bungalow in downtown Vienna.
The first year’s profits totaled a whopping
$2,588.96. The original loan was paid back
and a new business was born.

The 50th anniversary celebration
had a rousing kickoff on the evening
of October 26, 2011 when Holy
Comforter and Pennywise made their
first appearance in the annual Vienna
Halloween Parade. Pennywise had a
float, banners, marchers in anniversary
tee shirts and a convertible bearing a
smiling trio of “founding mothers.” The
parish’s preschool students, wearing
their Halloween costumes, rode along
the parade route in a colorful train. All
three of the church’s clergy participated,
with the Rev. Rick Lord, rector, waving
from the back of a vintage MGB, the Rev.
Libby Gibson, senior associate rector,
marching with other parishioners,
and the Rev. Jody Burnett,