WNC Bridge Foundation supports a variety of community initiatives and provides impact grants to local nonprofits. Five community initiatives are supported by the proceeds of WNC Bridge’s Estate Sales and Thrift Store, according to Director of Retail Operations Skip Wade.

In 2022, WNC Bridge’s Estate Sales and Thrift Store received 12,548 hours of volunteer time, produced $205,609 in proceeds, and helped 1,746 individuals receive support from initiatives including:

• Children’s Services Fund - 34
• WNC Greatest Needs - 29
• Rathbun House - 1,174
• Health Scholarships - 34
• You’re Special Fund - 475

Beginning as an annual rummage sale, the Thrift Store began operations 20 years ago at the Asheville Outlets and moved into the current Fairview Road building in 2016. The Estate Sale was added 14 years ago, and has increased the donor base and expanded the variety of items available for sale.

With a “huge donor base of givers,” Wade said donations and consignments have increased over time, although there is an ebb and flow of donations depending on the time of year. Some donors give annually, and some have been giving to the store for years.

Held twice a month for three days, the Estate Sale attracts repeat customers including some resellers and collectors, according to Wade. More locals than tourists, customers come for a preview on the Wednesday before the sale is open Thursday through Saturday. Leftovers from estate sales go on to the next sale, and are then donated to the thrift store as the two entities work hand in hand.

“There’s always a line to get into the sale,” Wade said. “Resellers are finding items for their booths at local retailers like the Antique Tobacco Barn, Marquee, and Screen Door. There are repeat customers at every sale, and the customer base is pretty consistent. I always know at least 90% of people shopping here.”

Brunk Auctions becomes involved for higher-value estate items like high-end artwork. Assessors approximate the value and auctioneers determine salability. Wade said while some estate sale items are very common, they come across some very interesting things from time to time.

“Recently there was a large clay pot that was chipped and cracked and had been repainted,” Wade said. “An auctioneer identified it as a Dave Drake pot — he was a one-armed slave who made pottery, and that item sold for $5,000.”

Sellers for the Estate Sales are found by advertising as well as word of mouth, and include those needing to clean out houses or sort through family items. Many are retired and downsizing, and many come back for multiple sales. The proceeds from Estate Sales are divided between WNC Bridge Foundation and the seller. 

With a retail staff including six full-time and 13 part-time employees, the majority of the work is volunteer-driven. Volunteers go to houses and pack items to be inventoried, and provide the estate with presale estimates after values have been assessed.

While this partnership of the Estate Sale, Thrift Store, and WNC Bridge Foundation works well, the additional retail portion may not work for other types of nonprofit organizations. Wade said there is a large initial investment with employees, box trucks for moving items, and rent for the retail space, which may be cost-prohibitive to many organizations.

“We are fortunate to have started when we did,” Wade said. “It would be very hard to recreate at this point in time.”

Thrift stores are prominent in several other nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity, Four Seasons, Rutherfordton Hospice, and some churches, but the Estate Sale is pretty unique for a nonprofit, according to Wade. Asheville has the right mix of affluent people willing to donate quality items as well as interested buyers.

“We’re lucky to have a really good mix that works really well for the Foundation,” Wade said. “We’ve been doing it for many years, so that says something. All of these pieces have stories. It also feels really good to positively impact the community with what we are doing. It’s really a feel-good place to work.”