Experienced managers and staff members run multiple components of the organization. CommunityWorx is led by a team of professionals, including a President/CEO, a VP of Operations, a VP of Assets and Infrastructure, a Chief of Staff, and a Program Coordinator (YouthWorx on Main and Project Impact).

Early on, the organization relied solely on volunteers. Parents and school children oversaw taking in donations, stocking and running the store. As the organization and demand grew, we realized we needed more professional staff. In the late 90s, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School was enlisted to formulate a strategic plan to help us become a more sustainable organization and strengthen our ability to fund school programs. The project team recommended that we pare down our mostly volunteer-led working board and transition it to a governing board with no more than 18 members. The team also recommended that our day-to-day operations be overseen by an executive director and paid staff, with PTA volunteers as a supplement to the operations and as ambassadors for the organization.

In 2000, we hired our first executive director and added all-paid staff to run the organization and our stores. In 2014, the board voted to become a streamlined policymaking board. Today, volunteers make up our governing board and serve as ambassadors.

We donate 10% of our annual net sales (calculated monthly) in the form of merchandise to assist families in need. That amounts to roughly $200,000 each year. This support helps families achieve greater stability and enables them to put their income to use in other ways. We also offer general in-kind support to PTAs and schools whenever a need is identified through connections with each school’s social worker. We offer free resources through our Community Partners Gift Certificate Program. In addition, we offer a discount to teachers and educators through the Public School Foundation.

We are the developer and landlord of the YouthWorx on Main building located at 117 West Main Street in Carrboro, NC. The youth-focused nonprofits based there are our tenants, and the rent they pay contributes to our operating income. Learn more about YouthWorx on Main.

CommunityWorx (formerly PTA Thrift Shop, Inc.), is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit whose activities include distributing annual net proceeds, when available, to the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) of the public schools located in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. We are a funding partner to the PTAs and the schools they represent. We are not formally affiliated with the Orange County Schools.  And while we are not formally affiliated with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, we do rent space to the school district at our headquarters in Carrboro and partner with the district on other youth-based initiatives. We have previously rented space and provided resources to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School programs.

Organizational documents available to the public can be accessed on GuideStar.

You can donate goods at our Carrboro Donation Center from 10 am – 4 pm Thursday through Tuesday, and 12 pm – 4 pm on Sundays.

Because we want to be good stewards of your donations, we ask that you not leave donations after hours.

For the safety of patrons and staff, if there is inclement weather, our Donation Center may not be accepting donations. Please feel free to call the store and inquire, or check our social media for updates.

We are happy to pick up large items. Please call 919-417-0553 to arrange for your items to be picked up. If your call is not answered immediately, please leave a message and we will return your call within 24 hours. You may also schedule your pick-ups online.

We do not take toy donations at this time. Please do not bring items which are broken, soiled, or otherwise unsellable. If an item is not worth your time or money to fix or repair, it is unlikely we will be able to sell it. These items should not be brought to us. Items that cannot be sold in the stores are listed in detail on our Donate Goods page.

If you would still like to dispose of items with us, there is a nominal disposal fee of $25 that we will charge upon assessment of items, in the form of cash or check only. If you choose not to leave your items, we will direct you to Eubanks Rd landfill located at 1514 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we are unable to accept donations of building materials. However, please direct your building materials donations to the Habitat Reuse Store.

We are happy to accept all items which are in sellable condition, but below are a few of our items which are always in high demand: furniture, household items, electronics/computers, collectibles, books, clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry.

We are mindful of the environmental impact a resell organization such as ours has and do everything we can to dispose of unsellable items in a responsible way. Read about our commitment to sustainability. If you would still like to dispose of items, there is a nominal disposal fee of $25 that we will charge upon assessment of items, in the form of cash or check only. If you choose not to leave your items, we will direct you to Eubanks Rd landfill located at 1514 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

As a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, we are happy to provide you with a receipt for your donation. You can also request an Electronic Donation Receipt here.