Location for Chase Me Again in Gresham Oregon
Popular Gresham shop supporting nonprofits will close April 1 unless buyer is found
A nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting other charitable efforts across East Multnomah County is seeking a buyer for its thrift store on the edge of downtown Gresham.
Sue Meyers, the executive director of Chase Me Again, is retiring later this year to move with her husband back to Idaho to be closer to family. Her decision to step away prompted the nonprofit's board of directors to move away from a brick and mortar location toward online sales and hosting events.
While Chase Me Again will continue to operate in a new way, a countdown has begun to find a buyer willing to take over operation of the popular thrift store, located at 289 N.E. Second St. If that doesn't happen by April 1, the space will go up for grabs and the Chase Me Again thrift store will cease to be.
"My dream is to have another nonprofit take over this space with their own vision," Meyers said. "I hope we can find a new owner to keep this going."
Meyers was inspired to establish Chase Me Again as a way to bolster My Father's House, a homeless shelter for families and children where she served on the board of directors.
The idea was to create a separate nonprofit organization that could raise funds independently from My Father's House.
"If I failed, I didn't want to drag My Father's House down with me," Meyers said.
The results were anything but a failure. Chase Me Again operated as a unique thrift store selling new and used clothing, home décor, kitchen and household items, used furniture, patio wares, and seasonal decorations.
Those sales were then sent back as donations to places like My Father's House, with Chase Me Again donating $107,000 to the shelter that inspired its creation. The thrift store also offered shelter residents "Chase Dollars" — free, in-store money to outfit families with needed clothing and items.
And what made Chase Me Again special was the scope of the support. Not only was the thrift store funding My Father's House, but in its 11 years of operation Chase Me Again raised $300,000 for nonprofits across the region.
"I'm humbled by this store and what everyone around me has accomplished," Meyers said. "The employees and volunteers took my vision and made all of this happen."
Other organizations that have been supported by Chase Me Again include $27,500 to Birch Community Services; $11,500 to Gresham Outdoor Public Art; and $31,000 split between the Gresham Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, Infusion Gallery, NW Battle Buddies and PAWS, Adventist Hospice, Hospice Care of Washington County, and other organizations.
The nonprofit thrift store has also donated more than $72,000 in clothing to those in need.
Most recent has been a partnership with Pediatric Therapy of Gresham, next door to the thrift store, which has Chase Me Again filling the gaps for disabled children. They have provided more than $5,000 in financial aid to kids needing specific items for treatment like specialty shoes or braces.
"It has been so rewarding to partner with Pediatric Therapy of Gresham — and the parents will often shop while the kids are in their sessions," Meyers said.
Now as the deadline to sell looms, Meyers is optimistic a buyer can be found. For her, the best case scenario would be to find someone willing to keep the storefront operating as a thrift store, just under a different organization.
Even if that doesn't happen, Chase Me Again will continue to serve other nonprofit groups across the region.
"This is a special place filled with amazing people," Meyers said.
If you go
Who: Chase Me Again
Where: 289 N.E. Second St., Gresham
What: Nonprofit thrift Store, offering new and used clothing, home decor, household items, seasonal decorations and more
Hours of operation: noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
More info: call 503-491-8010
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Source: https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/501098-401289-chase-me-again-seeks-thrift-store-buyer
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