Senior Treasures Gift Shop may be Baldwin County's best kept secret

By Melanie LeCroy
Lifestyle Editor
melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 10/12/22

Tucked inside the Council on Aging office at the Baldwin County Central Annex, there is a gift shop stocked with beautiful handmade items. The Senior Treasures Gift Shop may be Baldwin County's best …

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Senior Treasures Gift Shop may be Baldwin County's best kept secret

Posted

Tucked inside the Council on Aging office at the Baldwin County Central Annex, there is a gift shop stocked with beautiful handmade items. The Senior Treasures Gift Shop may be Baldwin County's best kept secret.

Seniors from around Baldwin County have been stocking the Senior Treasures Gift Shop for over two decades. Council on Aging (COA) Coordinator, Kelly Childress said she has been with the COA for 24 years and the store was in existence when she arrived.

Over 200 Baldwin County residents over the age of 60 consign their handmade items in the store. Childress said the consigners are in control of what they display, the price and keep track of the merchandise. The store operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and accepts cash or check only. Consigners receive 80% of the purchase price and the remaining 20% is used to help fund classes offered by the Council on Aging such as ceramics.

"It is a supplement income for the consignors. There are a lot of seniors that this little bit of extra income means a lot to them," Childress said.

Currently, consigners are beginning to bring in holiday items. Childress said they have one gentleman that makes large wooden Christmas trees that are a hit every year. Just last week, another consigner brought in Christmas decorative pillows.

A stroll around the store requires some time as there are hundreds of items to look through - beautifully crafted quilts, knitted and crocheted items like scarves and blankets, quilted glasses cases and table runners.

For those in need of a baby gift the choices are endless and even include little dresses for the LSU, Auburn Tiger or Crimson Tide fan.

There are shelves lined with hand poured candles, jewelry and even a wooden nativity backdrop for your Christmas display. Speaking of Christmas display, if you are looking for the classic ceramic Christmas tree with lights, stop in as they are starting to come into the shop.

"We have some really talented seniors in Baldwin County, and we need more to come and put their stuff in the shop," Childress said.

People that work in the Baldwin County Central Annex shop in the store and spread the word but many people in Baldwin County may not know the store exists.

"We have a lot of organizations like the Rotary Clubs and Kiwanis Clubs that have different fundraisers and they have so much money to spend on door prices. They will come here to get those door prizes because it puts money back into the senior population and it is able to help them," Childress said.

The Baldwin County Council on Aging offers many programs to the seniors in the area. Childress said many don't know they exist until they need help.
Seniors can access:

  • Legal Assistance
  • Insurance Counseling
  • Senior Nutrition Centers
  • Prescription Assistance
  • S.E.E.K. Program – The program provides elderly homebound and seniors who will be staying home or evacuating to a shelter with a Senior Essential Emergency Kit that contains everything they need in the event of a disaster.
  • Respite for Caregivers
  • Medical Equipment Needs
  • Vial of Life – Provides crucial medical information to first responders entering your home. A Vial for Life decal is placed on the front door of your home indicating you have medical information available.
  • Special Assistance Servies – Helps seniors who cannot drive or are unable to ride public transportation. Must meet program qualifications. Call (251) 972-8506 for more information.
  • Telephone Reassurance – This service provides a weekday morning call to check on those living alone.
  • Senior Resources Information
  • Referral Services

Along with the programs, the COA also offers a knitting and crocheting class every Wednesday from 9 until 11 a.m. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, the class welcomes all seniors. Bring your own supplies. The group makes blankets, sweaters and hots to donate to nursing homes, veterans' homes and hospitals for premature infants. On Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. seniors can learn basic ceramic techniques.

"We are advocates for the seniors in Baldwin County. Whatever they need is what we are going to look into and see what we can help with," Childress said. "We don't have money to give away to help with utility bills and that sort of thing, but we know where to send people to access those resources."

The Baldwin County Council on Aging and Senior Treasures Gift Shop are located at 22251 Palmer Street, Robertsdale. For more information on the programs offered call the Council on Aging at (251) 972-8506 or visit baldwincountyal.gov.