YWCA has Moxie! Agency opens thrift store in downtown Sterling

STERLING – The mission has changed, but the location remains the same.

YWCA of the Sauk Valley has taken over the space once occupied by The Emporium, the Whiteside County Senior Center’s resale shop that was closed by COVID-19, opening its own thrift store, YWCA’s West End Moxie Thrift Shoppe.

All proceeds benefit the YW’s programs and services, which are available free to all ages and genders, YWCA Director of Development and Marketing Denise Garcia said.

One of its services, its Empowerment Center in the basement at the YW’s main building a few blocks away at 412 First Ave., has moved to Moxie. YWCA clients using the center get vouchers for clothing and accessories for job interviews or other needs free of charge.

Garica and Cilvia Rivera, the agency’s director of services and outreach, are the muscle behind Moxie – they worked to get the shop remodeled and open and have been busy organizing and promoting.

Andrea Adami is the store manager.

Donations of clothing, furniture, electronics and household items – but not books, bedding or stuffed animals – are accepted.

At the moment, Moxie is in serious need of men’s clothing, Garcia said.

The store also needs volunteers to help run the store and sort and price incoming merchandise.

Moxie is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 115 W. Third St. For now, transactions are cash only.

For information or to volunteer, find YWCA’s West End Moxie on Facebook or call 815-255-9959.

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Denise Garcia (right), YWCA director of development and marketing, and Andrea Adami, store coordinator for West End Moxie, invite customers to the new YWCA thrift store at 115 W. 3rd St. in Sterling. (Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@shawmedia.com)