Scenes From Opening Day At The Hospital Thrift Shop

It was a beautiful morning on Monday for the opening day of the Hospital Thrift Shop, as one of Nantucket's spring traditions was renewed. 

The board, staff, and volunteers of the Thrift Shop - which sells donated used goods to benefit Nantucket Cottage Hospital - opened the doors at 17 India Street at 10 a.m. Monday morning to a huge line of customers. Manager Mary Casey said the shop is packed to the gills with great stuff donated over the winter.

"People started lining up earlier than expected - before 6 a.m.!" Casey told the Current. "We always let in the first 40 people, then take a read on the crowds in the building before we let more inside. I’d say by 11:15, there was no line, and people started to flow in and out. The shelves and racks all needed to be restocked (Tuesday), so that indicates it was a very successful day."

The opening marked the start of the Thrift Shop’s 96th year in business.

Last year the Thrift Shop donated a record-tying $625,000 to the hospital from the proceeds of its sales from May through October.

"Our success is dependent on donations, so we are grateful for the community’s generosity - offseason and in-season, and on island and beyond," Casey said.