Cancer society thrift store is tops in sales

Noaki Schwartz

CORONA DEL MAR -- When Dottie Hill’s only sister got lung cancer

nine years ago, she was devastated.

“I used to push her baby carriage,” recalled Hill, 82.

At the age of 67, Hill’s sister mysteriously began to have trouble

breathing and was unusually tired. Even so, cancer seemed unlikely. After

all, she wasn’t a smoker and no one in the family had had cancer. But the

curling smoke from her husband’s two-pack a day habit had seeped

unnoticed into her lungs.

“Shortly after, I began volunteering at the Discovery Shop [in Corona

del Mar],” said Hill, adding that joining the fight against cancer has

become part of her life’s mission.

There are hundreds of these American Cancer Society thrift shops across

the nation and more than 50 in Southern California. But none of them

compares to Corona del Mar’s: Two weeks ago, the shop was recognized for

selling more than any other in the nation.

“We’re very fortunate in that when there is a death with cancer, the

estate is assigned to us,” Hill said. “We have wonderful donations.”

All of the profits from barely used upscale items go to the American

Cancer Society for research. Most of the donated items come from families

who have lost a beloved mother, sister or grandfather to the disease.

The shop currently features a baby grand piano for $5,000, fur coats

for $350 to $3,000 and Chanel and Christian Dior evening gowns for $95 to

$325.

Clothing companies and bankrupt businesses also give items to the

Discovery Shop. Recently, a ceiling fan store that was going out of

business donated a number of fans in unopened boxes.

As for Hill, she continues to volunteer at the Corona del Mar branch

every Saturday as she has done for the last nine years. She continues to

be close to her sister, who lives only a block away. Though her sister

lost a lung to the disease, she is now cancer-free and, most importantly,

alive.

* WHAT: DISCOVERY SHOP

* WHERE: 2600 E. Coast Highway

* CONTACT: (949) 640-4777