HILO — The Salvation Army is requesting donations after its thrift store in Hilo was indefinitely closed after sustaining flooding damage during Hurricane Lane.
According to a Salvation Army news release, store employees returned to the store Monday, Aug. 27, to find that heavy rains from Hurricane Lane had caused portions of the roof to fail, creating flooding in several parts of the store.
The store is closed indefinitely until all required cleanup, repair and remodeling work to the store can be completed. Repairs are expected to take at least one month, but might last considerably longer.
The damage is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars, including damage to the building, merchandise and display racks. Salvation Army programs, including homeless outreach and after-school activities, also will be curtailed, according to the news release.
“Because the store is our corps’ primary revenue stream, the closure also creates a real need for monetary donations to support the various programs our corps provides in Hilo and across East Hawaii,” said Jacob Bratton, Hawaii County coordinator for The Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corps.
The store also is unable to accept donations of clothing, furniture or other items until the store is reopened, because there is insufficient warehouse space to store additional goods, said David Sayre, public relations specialist for Salvation Army.
While the Salvation Army distribution center at the Pahoa Shelter will remain open, it is unable to continue to offer thrift store vouchers to shelter residents. It will, however, continue to distribute food boxes, bottled water, hygiene kits and mosquito repellent during its usual hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Monetary donations to the store can be made at hilo.salvationarmy.org.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com