NORMAN — For Lyz Farrar opening up Donate a Miracle has been a dream come true.
The thrift store at 1104 24th Ave. SE opened June 1 and has taken a different approach to serving the Norman community.
“We try to set ourselves apart from other thrift stores. We try to help our community as close as home as possible. We are faith-based, so we help a lot of Christian organizations,” said Eli Farrar, Donate a Miracle employee and daughter-in-law to Lyz Farrar. “We understand the dynamics of family. And we understand that families need to help each other.”
As the idea for Donate a Miracle came about, Eli said it was obvious that the business would need to be more than just a thrift store.
“We wanted to help people spiritually or anyway we can,” Eli Farrar said. “If we have someone that comes in and we can tell that they need help, we’re not stable enough at this time to help financially, but if they need clothing, shoes, anything, we let them take it free of charge. The outpouring of donations that we have received from the community has allowed us to do that.
“We’ve had a lot of people come in who recently lost their jobs. We are also a donation drop-off point and a place for the fire victims to come. We helped at least 100 families with clothing after the fires. That’s something we hope to be able to continue. We want to help people help others. We want to be able to accept people’s donations to turn around and help people that are in need.”
Eli Farrar and Lyz Farrar are the only paid employees of Donate a Miracle. Everyone else working at the thrift store are volunteers.
According to Eli, her mother-in-law has always had a passion for thrift stores and has always wanted to run one herself.
“I had owned my own business in the past, a restaurant. I could not help many that way. Then I got in the car business for many years and made very, very good money. I had all the good things in life but never enjoyed it, and God was way out of the picture. That is when I decided life had to change,” Lyz Farrar said. “How Donate a Miracle came to be was not an easy journey, but I never gave up. Many said quit, but I knew it was right because so many in our area needed us.”
Although the location of Donate a Miracle is a bit off the beaten path and was the third retail space the family tried to rent, Eli Farrar knows they are there for a reason.
“This was the first place my mother-in-law said she wanted, but we talked her out of it. But then it came around that this is where we ended up. It’s been a blessing being here because the amount of people we’ve been able to help here has been 10 times more than we could of helped at any of those other locations,” Eli Farrar said.
With most clothing under $10, Eli Farrar also said Donate a Miracle has competitive prices and offers half prices on household items on Monday, half prices on clothing, shoes and accessories on Wednesday and half prices on toys, books and movies on Friday.
“We have dreams of opening up another store somewhere. That way we can spread our word and what we’re here for to other locations. Also to help where ever we can.” Eli Farrar said.
Donate a Miracle is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Winter hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 701-5300.
“I want to be different, and I want my family to be a part of this. My children know where I stand with my religion. I have the faith, love and compassion and they do, too.”
Shana Adkisson366-3544sadkisson@normantranscript.com
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