MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Fifteen minutes before the store opens, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar's Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Thrift Shop  has customers lined up outside waiting to get in to take advantage of the deals available.

During business hours, retired military and their families flood the shop. The volunteers who work there want young active duty servicemembers to also benefit from the deals.

"Our goal is to get young active duty Marines with families to get great bargains," said Julie Jensen, volunteer chairman of the Thrift Shop.

Every year during the holidays, the store receives a surplus of donations. The store receives so many donations they have to reallocate their merchandise to other thrift stores.

"We get excess donations this time of the year because everyone is getting rid of their old stuff to make room for the new stuff," said Jensen, a native of Streator, Ill.

Most young servicemembers think there is nothing they can use from a thrift store.

In honor of the Marine Corps birthday, the shop hosted a half-off sale on all uniform items. Some Marines walked out of the thrift store with a set of dress blues for $5.

The store also holds many name brands in stock such as Nautica and Tommy Hilfiger. Many of those items contained price tags as high as $198.

The thrift store marked these prices down substantially.

"We keep the brands of clothing that we think would be of interest to young servicemembers," said Jensen.

The shop plans to hold an active duty only sale in December. The sale will feature a Santa's Shop where children may purchase gifts for less than $1 for their friends and family.

Gifts available for purchase at the Santa's Shop include stationary goods, toys, clothes and jewelry.

"A child could buy presents for their whole family for just a few dollars," said Jensen.
The shop is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. which may be inconvenient if servicemembers are working during these times. If a servicemember  is in need of uniform items, there are other options.

"If the volunteers are here or the back door is open between store hours, any Marine or Sailor may shop as long as it is for uniform needs only."

The shop pulls in more than $2,200 during a six-hour workweek. All revenues acquired from the sales go to NMCRS. The money is then used for loans and grants for qualifying servicemembers.

"The most satisfying thing about volunteering here is that every dime earned here goes back into the servicemembers pockets," said Jensen.