The thrift shop run by CommunityWorx — a nonprofit known for its programming and fundraising to support local students — is ending its decades-long run of operations this week.
A release by the Carrboro-based organization said its thrift shop that has helped raise money for public school students for more than 70 years will permanently close on Wednesday, Dec. 31 as its operations transition to a new owner. The nonprofit referenced the recent death of its longtime Executive Director and CEO Barbara Jessie-Black as a driving factor behind the decision. The announcement came after CommunityWorx warned supporters on Dec. 23 it would not be taking any more new donations in 2025 and all store credit must be used by the end of the year.
“CommunityWorx has long been known for the thrift shop and related mission-driven programs, which combined retail operations with job training and local investment,” read the nonprofit’s press release shared on Sunday. “The organization’s transition marks the end of its meaningful role in the community. Looking ahead, CommunityWorx is glad to share that another local nonprofit expects to move into the space and operate the thrift shop as a new store in January 2026, continuing the tradition of philanthropic retail on West Main Street in Carrboro.
“CommunityWorx, including its board, staff, and many supporters, express deep gratitude for many years of patronage and partnership, and deeply appreciate the ongoing celebration of its legacy and that of Barbara Jessie-Black,” the statement concluded.
The nonprofit began in 1952 under a different name, when a group of Chapel Hill Art Guild members founded a thrift shop to raise money for art education in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district. The effort found permanent space and morphed into the PTA Thrift Shop, with proceeds from thrift sales going to the district’s Parent Teacher Association. The thrift shop operations moved into its current Carrboro space in 2013 after a capital campaign under the leadership of Jessie-Black and continued to expand the scope of its operations. As the CHCCS PTA began to see less of the proceeds from the thrift shop, its leadership council sent the nonprofit a cease and desist letter in 2018 to remove “PTA” from the shop’s name — which led to its rebranding as CommunityWorx in 2019.
Most recently, the organization saw its future and operations questions when the thrift shop faced foreclosure at its 125 West Main Street building in June 2024, alongside the nonprofit’s YouthWorx on Main space at 117 West Main Street. Jessie-Black and the CommunityWorx’s leadership ultimately found a buyer for the space, Shared Visions Foundation, that promised it would allow the thrift shop to stay on as a tenant and the deal was struck in the fall of 2024.
Dawn Edgerton, a longtime member of CommunityWorx’s Board of Directors, told Chapelboro that Shared Visions Foundation would be taking over the role as landlord for the nonprofits and organizations using the 117 West Main Street space. She also declined to share what nonprofit would be taking over the thrift shop operations, but said she is glad the shop will continue to support the immediate community under new management.
Edgerton added that she and other CommunityWorx leaders look forward to celebrating the nonprofit’s legacy and the lives it has touched during its 73 years of work.
“CommunityWorx initially operated as the PTA Thrift Shop beginning back in 1952. Since then and in myriad ways, we have financially supported and directly empowered young people in their schooling and community involvement. We also sought to live our values, facilitating employment entry for those facing barriers to work and offering living wages for our dedicated personnel. We are so proud of these endeavors and of our community in helping to realize our mission. Unfortunately, with the passing of our visionary leader a few months ago — and challenges that we have long struggled to address — we recognize that CommunityWorx’s time has come to its natural conclusion.”
The CommunityWorx thrift shop’s weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Featured photo via the Chapel Hill Media Group.
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