Republic of Thrift: Not a typical thrift store

Sonoma Valley’s 11 public schools each recently received a $750 check from Republic of Thrift, a fun second-hand store on Highway 12 in Boyes Hot Springs that donates its profits to our local public schools.

Sisters Jeannette Tomany and Michelle Mammini, whose children attend Sonoma Charter and Dunbar Elementary schools, operate Republic of Thrift. The store donated $23,250 to Sonoma Valley public schools in 2015. Since it opened in February 2012, the store has donated a total of more than $130,000 to our schools via each school’s Parent Teacher Organization, known as the PTO.

Jeannette said they donate the money to the PTOs, because the PTOs provide items and activities for schools that each school wouldn’t have otherwise. She pointed out that at Creekside High, the PTO uses the money to pay for students to take the GED, which is the high-school graduation equivalency test.

Jeannette said she really likes Republic of Thrift’s location at 17496 Highway 12. She said it wasn’t her intention to open in the Springs, she had looked throughout the Valley for a location, but it turned out to be the perfect spot. “It has good visibility with people both walking and driving by,” she said.

She added that profits, and thus the store’s donations to schools, were down last year from previous years because of the Highway 12 construction. However, the sisters aren’t complaining. They are very happy about the new sidewalks and know that business will be back to what it was, if not higher, when the project is finished.

I can’t help but admire Jeannette and Michelle’s dedication. During their first year in business, Jeanette worked without a salary while the store donated $40,200 to our schools. Michelle moved her family from Lodi to Sonoma in 2012 in order to join her sister in the enterprise. She said two days after she moved here she worked 30 straight, long days in order to get the store open.

Jeannette spent a year preparing to open Republic of Thrift. She said she didn’t tell the Sonoma Valley Unified School District what she was planning to do, because she wanted to work with parents and do things her way. Parents at Prestwood Elementary School helped out by holding a used clothing drive, which yielded 900 pounds of clothes that helped stock the store when it opened. Jeannette said she also spent that year going to random garage sales in the valley picking up the leftovers.

Republic of Thrift accepts donations of gently used clothing, accessories, household items, and collectables Fridays through Mondays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It doesn’t accept furniture or electronic items. In 2013 Republic of Thrift became a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so your donations are tax deductible.

Gina Cuclis has been a resident and community advocate in Boyes Hot Springs since 1990. She also represents Sonoma Valley on the Sonoma County Board of Education. Reach her at [email protected].