etc…a thrift store

etc... a thrift store is making a huge difference in Highland Christian School's community!

Established as a long term revenue source for the HCS Foundation, etc's outreach and impact in the community is organic! We are so grateful to witness

Have you been to the showroom lately? In addition to selling donated items, etc . . . a thrift store purchases and resells jewelry, accessories, and furniture! The portion of the store’s floor space devoted to new furniture, in particular, has grown to about 40% of the total.

We thank God for our etc… family and for His blessing on the work of their hands.

Profits are invested in the HCS Foundation which helps to reduce tuition for parents through an annual gift to Highland Christian School’s operating fund.

To date, etc . . . a thrift store has generated more than
$
in support of Highland Christian School!

etc is located
at the corner of Rte. 30 & Rte. 41 in Schererville, IN.
(1650 U.S. Route 41, Schererville, IN 46375)

219-865-5400

Volunteer!

We are extremely thankful for the people that God sends to help in this significant work. Not only do they bless the school and the school’s students through their efforts, but many volunteers report how their lives are enriched by the number of significant new friendships they have made since they became part of this caring and supportive community. Working together this group continues to make a major impact for God’s kingdom.

Donate!

The resale shop receives and re-sells thousands of donated items – clothing, furniture, toys, books, housewares, knick-knacks, and appliances, to name a few! A dedicated cadre of volunteers sort through the thousands and thousands of donated items we receive and selects for resale only those items that meet our quality standards.

In addition to selling these donated items, the store also purchases and resells jewelry, accessories, and especially furniture. The portion of the store’s floor space devoted to new furniture, in particular, has grown to about 40% of the total.

Shop!

etc... Thrift Store has something for everyone! Like us on Facebook to get the latest scoop on sales and special events.

What is etc?

etc's full name is etc . . . a thrift store.   etc is a resale shop located in the mall on the northwest corner of US 41 (Indianapolis Blvd) and US 30 (Lincoln Highway) in Schererville (across the street from Wal-Mart, between The Dollar Tree and Rent-a-Center).

Why is it called etc?

Our resale shop is called etc for two reasons:   first, etc was picked as an acronym for Educate The Children – a way to reflect its basic purpose of generating income that will be used to train Christian young people to serve their Lord and their world in their callings - with greater knowledge and skill, and more effectively.

Second, etc is the abbreviation for the Latin words et cetera, which mean  “and other things,” or “and so forth.” etc sells a lot of “other things,” so this phrase is very fitting. The inventory is always changing and never predictable. This unpredictability is what makes shopping at etc exciting and keeps drawing people back to the store.

Who runs etc?

etc is run by Servant Partners in Christian Education (S.P.I.C.E.).  This volunteer Board of Directors is appointed by the Foundation Board and ratified by the School Board. The S.P.I.C.E. Board provides oversight of this while the day-to-day operations are managed by a team of employees and volunteers.

What difference does it make?

etc was formed to support and grow the HCS Foundation Fund.  Since opening, it has generated more than $1.25 M dollars for this fund!  This is great news for parents and school alike!  For every $100,000 that etc contributes to the Foundation, the Foundation will be able to increase its annual, recurring gift to the school by $5,000. That is not just $5,000 for one or two years, but $5,000 for as long as the school and Foundation will last.

If etc were able to contribute $100,000 per year for 20 years, for example, then the Foundation would have increased its annual gift to the school by $100,000 in perpetuity, even if the resale shop were to stop at that point. In other words, with some patience, the impact of etc's efforts will be very significant for years to come.

The resale shop was established by the Highland Christian School Foundation as one of its primary fundraising initiatives. The resale shop is currently the only ministry of Servant Partners in Christian Education, Incorporated (SPICE), a non-profit organization created for this purpose and incorporated in the State of Indiana on January 9, 2009. This organization opened the resale shop in April of that same year. On April 22, 2009, the organization was also approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charity. That was important because it means that gifts made to etc are deductible for federal income tax purposes to the full extent of the law.