New St. Joseph Salvation Army thrift store to support men seeking a second chance
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- A new Salvation Army thrift store is coming to St. Joseph, with the goal of giving community members a place to donate items while also making donations available to people in the community at affordable prices.
The store will be located at 603 N. Belt Highway, at the old Jo-Ann Fabrics store location.
Captain Wendy Meyer-Bautista with the Salvation Army said the new store will help support the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
“It is located on 1351 East Tenth Street and our mission is to provide a safe and faith-based environment for men who are seeking a second chance of life,” she said.
This is geared towards those who are experiencing trouble with alcohol and drug addiction.
The program is designed to help men who are struggling with alcohol and drug addiction.
The goal is to help them overcome those challenges, return to their communities and rebuild relationships with their families.
Meyer-Bautista has worked with the Salvation Army for 16 years. She said one of the most rewarding parts of the job is watching families come back together.
“Men who have lost everything and being able to return back home and become the fathers, the uncles, the brothers or the grandparents that they could be once they complete our program is great,” she added.
The rehabilitation program lasts six months, or 180 days, and comes at no cost to participants. During that time, those enrolled receive food, housing, clothing and three meals a day, along with the other support they need as they work toward recovery.
Meyer-Bautista said one of the biggest challenges is when someone in the program isn't ready to fully commit to recovery.
“It’s challenging for them and for us to be able to complete their program when they are not ready,” Meyer-Bautista said.
Still, Meyer-Bautista said the Salvation Army is fortunate to see many people overcome those challenges. She added that their doors remain open to those who may need help again.
The new thrift store is set to officially open on Oct. 23, 2026.
Meyer-Bautista hopes the St. Joseph community will come out and support the store during its grand opening.
“They'll hopefully see things they have never seen before. We have things they thought probably they would never need,” she added.
She also encouraged community members to donate items to the store. Those donations, she said, can ultimately help the Salvation Army continue its work of giving people a second chance at life.
