Annie’s Thrift Shop Owners Annie and Jody Smith collaborated with the Area Agency on Aging of Chenango County to donate items to Norwich seniors. They are also accepting children’s letters to Santa. Located at 5311 NY Highway 12 in Norwich, the business is family-owned and offers clothing, household items, tools, furniture, and a wide selection of new items. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/anniesthriftshop15. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH - Each year, Annie’s Thrift Shop in Norwich finds a new way to bring joy into the community during the holidays.

This season, owners Annie and Jody Smith are carrying on a deeply personal mission: honoring her mother’s memory by making sure local seniors feel remembered and cared for.

The store’s Angels of Hope program, now entering its second year, began after Smith saw firsthand how meaningful a simple gift could be.

“My mother lived in the senior apartments in Oxford, and when she received a gift from the Office for the Aging, she was super excited about it,” Smith said. “She was very happy that someone thought about her. This year she passed away, so from now on we will be doing Angels of Hope in memory of her.”

The holiday drive collects cash and donated items to help seniors across Chenango County feel warm and appreciated at Christmas.

Last year, the thrift store helped more than 300 seniors through the effort, an outcome that far exceeded what Smith expected when she first came up with the idea.

“We didn’t know if it would work,” she said. “We figured we’d help a few people, but the help we received from our customers was incredible.”

Community members donate everything from blankets and clothing to toiletries, pet supplies, and small comforts for seniors who are often homebound.

“Everyone should be taken care of, and we want to take care of the aging population,” she said. “Donations are accepted from November 1 through December 2, and those who give, whether it’s a cash donation or a gift, receive a 10 percent discount on their purchase as a thank-you.”

“I give them the cash and they can do the shopping for what’s needed,” Smith added. “I like to think of it like Toys-for-Tots, but for the elderly.”

While Angels of Hope focuses on seniors, December brings a second wave of community spirit for the youngest visitors: the return of the store’s Letters to Santa.

The idea was sparked last year after Santa spent an afternoon at the shop, delighting local families. “The kids were so happy to see Santa,” Smith said. “That’s why this year we decided to do the letters to Santa again.”

Beginning December 1, children can stop in to write their letters at a special activity table, then drop them into the store’s dedicated Santa Mailbox. Annie’s elf, known affectionately as Pinky, will make sure the letters reach the North Pole, and Santa will reply with a personalized note letting each child know where they stand on the Nice List.

On Christmas Eve, all participating children will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card.

Smith, a mother of four, says she welcomes children brought to the store.

“It’s just a nice way to be kid-friendly,” she said. “I understand what it is to take kids to the store. It doesn’t bother us at all, we love to see them come in. There’s always a ring pop for them. I let them play in the back room with the toys, and it keeps them busy while mom and dad shop.”

Adults also get a little holiday fun. Every purchase throughout the month comes with a raffle ticket for a Christmas Eve drawing on December 24, where a winner will receive a $50 gift card.

Between both campaigns, Smith says the goal is simple: “Christmas is the season of giving, and that’s what we do,” she said. “We do all sorts of things for our community.”

The couple’s generosity extends all year.

In the past, Annie’s Thrift Store has left hats and mittens on the porch for anyone who needed them and helped families facing sudden hardship.

“We help people who have had a house fire or domestic violence situations and need things to start over,” she said. “We’ve helped foster parents, too, who don’t get any budget to buy clothing for the children.”

Running a busy store while coordinating multiple community projects could easily be overwhelming, but Smith says she’s able to do it because she’s never doing it alone.

“I have a wonderful support system,” she said. “My wonderful husband and my very good friend Michele help me so much. Without them I don’t know what I would do. Part of it is that I’m a mom of four, so busy is what I’ve always been used to.”

For those wanting to get involved, Smith said stop in, drop off a letter, donate a gift, contribute to the jar on the counter, or simply spread the word. “We will take anything that helps put a smile on someone’s face,” she said.

Last year’s Angels of Hope collaboration with the Chenango County Area Agency on Aging filled an entire office with donated blankets, pajamas, books, puzzles, and other essentials.

Agency staff said it far surpassed anything they expected and made a tremendous impact on seniors during the holidays. It set the stage for what Smith hopes will be another season of kindness, and a tribute worthy of her mother.

Annie’s Thrift Shop, located at 5311 NY Highway 12 in Norwich, is family-owned and offers clothing, household items, tools, furniture, and a wide selection of new items.

The store’s regular hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sundays.

Annie’s Thrift Shop will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but open for shoppers on Black Friday. Visit their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/anniesthriftshop15) for more details.