It’s definitely “worth” a retake

Pat Sahakian describes her vision for a new “Worth Repeating” store in Manchester. Photo courtesy of JoAnn Okey.

Sometimes, the most unusual things can spur on a movement.

And so it is with a new effort under way in Manchester, to revive the former “Worth Repeating” charity resale shop and provide an opportunity for reviving the downtown, encouraging volunteerism, and giving a new avenue for community giving.

“On October 26, I attended a book talk by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who blew the whistle on the lead poisoning in the Flint water supply,” says Pat Sahakian. “People would come to council meetings with bottles of dirty water, but she saw the effects in her practice and realized that someone had to do something about this problem of contaminated water.

“The quote that really struck me was when she said, ‘If you just stand around wringing your hands when you see a problem happening, then you’re really part of the problem.'”

A few days later, Sahakian was having lunch at Two Black Sheep with a few friends, and she looked across the street at the empty storefronts that faced them. “I realized as we chatted about the problems happening in our downtown, that I was one of the ones wringing my hands,” she said. “I thought about this for a week. What were the things that our town had had that were successful, and were no longer part of our community? I came up with doughnuts and Worth Repeating. Those are the two things everyone was talking about.”

After talking to Jessica Bushaw at Frank’s Place Baked Goods, Sahakian soon realized that she was not cut out for the hours required for making doughnuts. But, she said, the idea of reviving Worth Repeating really stuck with her. She talked to Sue LaRocque at River Raisin Antiques, who encouraged the idea. And a few days later, on November 1, she saw Sue downtown while buying flowers at The Flower Garden.

“Sue told me I really needed to go look at the buildings that were on display for the Commercial Open House,” Sahakian recalls. “I looked at the spots on the north side of the block and I thought that the former Steelegrafix site at 110 E. Main might work out well for the store. I called Stephanie Beuerle, and we currently have a verbal agreement on the property. We need to wait to sign an actual lease until the paperwork is in order.”

From there, Sahakian set up a meeting at the Kingsley-Jenter House to gather people who might be interested in participating and volunteering for the effort. “I think we had a fine attendance,” she says. “We had about 30 people show up and about 25 of them signed on. Of course I know we’ll need more than 25 people to make this happen, but I’m greatly encouraged.”

At the meeting, breakout groups were formed and each group had a list of questions to consider and report back to the general session. “God must be looking out for me,” Sahakian said. “The people who attended the meeting had the skills that I don’t have, and I’m just amazed at the variety of people who are willing to help. We’ve got some real rockstars in our group!”

The finance group was a perfect blend of skills, she added. From Cindy Dresch, an accountant who has helped the non-profit Acorn Farmers Market with its paperwork, to Amy Fielder, who is the Financial Director for St. Louis School in Chelsea, to Barry Allen of the Lions, whose expertise extends to writing bylaws, and Mary Ann Sahakian, who’s writing the articles of incorporation, the backgrounds were a perfect fit. “This committee will be working hard in December, getting everything started and hopefully ready to push the buttons as of January 1, 2020.”

The next large group meeting is scheduled for January 7 at the K-J House. Watch for more information in the Mirror to learn more about this gathering.

The agenda for the November 20 meeting included the following Mission Statement:

• We are here to create a more sustainable community through upcycling. We will give our unwanted useable goods new homes rather than sending them to a landfill.
• We are here to create an entity that will benefit community schools and local nonprofit groups.
• We are here to join with other positive doers who want to revive our downtown.
• We are here to help in any way we can. No effort is too small.
• We are here to promote intergenerational volunteerism in our community.
• We are here to have fun.

Sahakian added that Sharon Curtis, who originated Worth Repeating in Manchester 13+ years ago, has been playing a pivotal role and helping out with the organizational discussions. By keeping basic costs to a minimum, Curtis has told Sahakian, it will be possible to start making charitable donations throughout the community very quickly, including to the schools, the Historical Society, Riverfolk Music & Arts, Acorn Farmers Market, Manchester Family Service, and more.

“It’s not just MY Worth Repeating,” she says. “It’s the whole community’s Worth Repeating.”