KINGMAN — Two local thrift stores recently donated to local shelter, Angel Manor. The owners of Airway Bargain Center (located on Airway Avenue) and ARC (also on Airway Avenue) both helped out families.
Airway Bargain Center
Ms. Peggy Sides, 92, owner of Airway Bargain Center, 2630 Airway Avenue, has been serving Kingman since 2001 with her thrift store.
When Sides heard that Angel Manor children needed back-to-school clothes, she very generously invited them to shop there, donating not just clothes, but shoes and toys as well.
“She does this a lot,” said Longoria. “She’s always helping someone in the community and never says a word about it to anyone. She’s very kind, very generous and no one ever gives her credit.”
Ms. Sides invited all 13 children and their mothers who are living in Angel Manor to shop and pick out what they needed for school. She then told the kids they could pick out a toy too.
Her kindness and generosity helped four families with a total of 13 children.
ARC
When ARC Store Manager, Lori Lopez, heard that the children of Angel Manor residents needed clothes for school, she graciously and generously invited them to ARC, 2050 Airway Avenue. She provided each family with a gift certificate ranging from $20-40, depending on the number of children in each family.
“We love helping our community,” said Manager Lopez.
DeeDee Gomez, secretary to ARC’s Director echoed that sentiment.
“We help our community by donating clothes,” Ms. Gomez said.
“We heard Mom’s with children at Angel Manor were in need of clothes and we decided to pitch in.”
ARC not only donates clothes to help the community, they also help another way.
Through a state-funded program, she said, they bring physically- and mentally-challenged adults into the store to help work, teaching them job skills and how to be independent.
“They come in and do a job like process what we receive or run a cash register and get paid,” she said.
“We like to help our community.”
Ms. Gomez said ARC is just about to get back on their feet after the devasting fire three years ago. That’s because of special sales offered to customers almost every day.
Some days, all clothing is $1, whether it be shirts or pants; brand-name items are 70% off and shoes, half off. This keeps customers coming back time after time and the store is always bustling with customers.
Ms. Gomez said, “Our community helps us hugely and we want to give back to the community.”
