Locals who need furnishings but can’t afford to pay high furniture costs now have another alternative.

Changes Thrift Store, located at 45 County Road 804 next to Safeway in Fraser, has started selling used furniture. Manager Diana Regier said the store has received many phone calls from people interested in buying and selling furnishings in the past. As a result, Changes has expanded to meet those needs.

“The community seems really excited. We’ve already seen pieces come and go,” Regier said. “We wouldn’t be able to do it if there wasn’t a need for it.”

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Changes started taking furniture in mid-April. The non-profit thrift store opened in 2000.

The store also caries clothing, books, kitchen appliances, lamps, beddings, linens, shoes, jewelry, electronics, toys, art, ski and snowboard gear.

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Money raised goes to Samaritan Ministries, which serves the people of Grand County. It provides people in emergency situations with food, rental assistance, gas vouchers or utility assistance.

“It’s pretty much basic needs they can’t provide themselves,” Regier said. “(The store) was started as Fraser Valley Baptist’s way of helping support Samaritan Ministries.”

All county churches support the ministries.

Changes “actually provides more money than Samaritan Ministries need,” she added.

The store also has sponsored a youth service trip, live music at a coffee shop during the winter and has helped the pregnancy resource center, Regier said.

“They’re (Samaritan Ministries) our first priority,” she said. “We just want to make sure we can pay our bills and keep (the store) going.”

She said because of the lagging economy, the ministries may need more funding in the future.

Chris Banning, 22, of Fraser, came to the thrift store Monday to help his friend Mark Schoppe, 23, of Tabernash, shop for luggage.

“We had to get some luggage for him,” Banning said. “They don’t really have that anywhere around here.

“It’s a great place to come shop,” he added. “I bought a nice safe one time here for only $20. They’re usually $200. If (you need) something like that, it’s always good to check here first.”

People donate items every day, so “you never know what you’re going find,” Regier said.

“You can find great things that you need, it’s a friendly environment, and by shopping here you’re giving back to the community,” she added.

While the store does not pay people for their used items, it offers donators tax receipts.

All the store’s items and furniture are donated but must be dropped off and approved during store hours. Changes only takes items that are in “good condition” and not stained or torn.

Donators can call ahead of time to see if the store would take their furniture.

“Sometimes I can tell if it would be worth their time to bring it down or not,” Regier said.

Changes does not pick-up items or deliver them, but it might in the future.

“I’m not sure if we actually need to provide that yet or not,” Regier said.

Due to lack of space, it only accepts in-season clothes and does not accept appliances such as washers or dryers.

Employees include Vickie Born, April Hatton, Collette Schoenegge, and eight volunteers, all members of the Fraser Valley Baptist Church.

The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information call the store at 726-4222. For information about Samaritan Ministries, call 726-8020. ext. 400.