The purpose of our organization is to provide financial and physical support to Eastside non-profits. Our primary source of funds that we donate is our volunteer staffed thrift shop.

Description:
We are an all-volunteer organization that operates a clean and popular thrift shop in the Totem Lake area of Kirkland. All proceeds are distributed to local non-profits as determined by the volunteers. Organizations we support assist the elderly, the poor, the disabled, and others in need on the Eastside. Among the organizations we support are Eastside Domestic Violence, Helping Hands for the Disabled and Assistance League of the Eastside. The grassroots spirit remains strong. We have approximately 40 to 50 volunteers.

History:
We began over 20 years ago when a group of women organized garage sales to raise money for local causes. In 1981, we were chartered as a non-profit organization by the State of Washington and opened a thrift shop in Redmond. Since March 2001, the shop has been in the Totem Lake West Shopping Center.

Contact people:

Cindy Stirk, Volunteer Coordinator, (email) Barbara Barger, Community Service Coordinator, (phone), (email) Jody Oribits, President, (phone), (email)

Address:

12451 116th Ave N.E. Kirkland, WA 98034 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

Take I-405 to NE 124th St. Head west on NE 124th Street. Go through 2 traffic lights and you will pass a gas station and a little mini-mart. Immediately past the mini-mart turn right. You will be heading down into a lower level of shops. Make the first left. We are in the middle area of the row and across from Longs Drug Store (closing September 2005). We are in the Totem Lake WEST Shopping Center and not in the larger shopping center on the other side of the highway.   Nearest Bus Stop: 252, 255, 257, 277, 935

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	Yes
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes

Overall Experience   
Working for ECA was a very positive and rewarding experience.

ECA is a small thrift store run by a group of volunteers. The volunteers are made up of all different ages including teens. They are a nice, happy, friendly, helpful, hardworking group of people who share their time for a wonderful cause. I'm glad I had the chance to share in it. posted by Linah on April 8, 2006