A for sale sign staked in the grass at the Upper Room Thrift Store has people questioning if the longstanding community service organization is still in operation.

It’s still open to serve, director Wilma Vaughn said.

“Even though it’s for sale, we are still open every Thursday and still helping the community,” she said.

A familiar institution located at Second Street and Robberts Avenue for over 30 years, the Upper Room Thrift Store not only provides household goods, clothes and other items for purchase, but donates most of the proceeds to other service-oriented organizations in the community.

With the help of volunteers and the community’s donations, Vaughn said through the years the proceeds have been dedicated to help multiple local organizations.

“Within the last several years, we have been able to help nine different organizations in the Kingfisher community each year with the proceeds,” Vaughn said.

In 2020, the organization contributed a total of $3,900 between the police department, fire department, senior citizens center, Memory Lane, Wheatheart Nutrition, Chisholm Trail Museum, Ambucs, Meals on Wheels and Kingfisher Winter Nights.

During the holidays, individuals sign up for the opportunity to win gift cards to help provide groceries for a holiday meal. Last year, Vaughn said a total of $3,590 in gift cards was given away to winners of the drawings.

The organization also helps with utility deposits if individuals meet their guidelines and provides clothes and household goods during family crises, Vaughn said.

The Upper Room Thrift Store is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Thursday for individuals to shop and donations can be dropped off on Thursday or anytime outside the north door.

A group of volunteers run the store, many of whom are senior citizens donating their time to help the community, Vaughn said.

“We have a great group of volunteers who work together and enjoy what they do,” Vaughn said.

Jan Franks, director of AmeriCorps Seniors/RSVP through Opportunities, Inc., which recognizes nonprofit organizations, said the Upper Room Thrift Store has participated in its program for 30 years.

AmeriCorps Seniors/ RSVP utilizes a federal grant to express appreciation and encouragement to volunteers age 55 and older for the work they do at specific nonprofit organizations, Franks said.

“The Upper Room has been a faithful part of our program for years and does so much for the Kingfisher community with their proceeds,” she said.

“Their volunteers are hardworking and have a love for what they do.”

If the building becomes unavailable in the future, Vaughn said it would be difficult to relocate, but for now they are focusing on what they have always done – serving the community.

Vaughn also expressed appreciation for the community support and donations to the thrift store.

“We would like to thank the community for backing us up all these years and for contributing donations,” she said.

“As long as the building is still on the market and we still have a place to be, we will continue operations as usual.”