U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy visited Ansonia Wednesday (March 27), but wishes he didn’t have to.
And not only because the site of his visit — My Sister’s Place, a family thrift shop on Main Street — has been closed since March 11 due to a fire at a nightclub next door.
Rather, Murphy lamented the fact that the shop, which benefits the Center for Domestic Violence Services, is only in business to cover ​“a funding gap that shouldn’t exist.”
The store, at 380 Main St., supports BHCare’s Center for Domestic Violence services to the tune of about $120,000 a year.
Murphy, who during his visit Wednesday presented a a box-ful of old clothes and some handbags donated by members of his office, said he would tell his new colleagues in the U.S. Senate about the lengths Ansonia-based BHcare goes to to keep things up and running.
Maybe that would convince them to agree to tax hikes on cash-flushed corporations and the super-rich, he said.
“You shouldn’t have to run all these ancillary operations to take care of women and children who have been victims of domestic violence,” Murphy said. ​“We should make a decision as a civilized, compassionate community that we’re going to provide those families everything they need to get back on their feet.”
“And because we don’t, you have to go to these extraordinary means to make the budgets work,” he went on. ​“And thank God you do.”
Marilyn Cormack, BHcare’s president, echoed Murphy’s sentiments.
“The demand is so great, and we get funding, but not enough,” she said. ​“Our shelters are full statewide, and they’re always full. If we have to turn (domestic violence victims) away, where are they going to go?”
After making some brief remarks and taking a tour, Murphy left to visit one of the company’s shelters for domestic violence victims.
Cleanup Continues
Meanwhile, staff members and volunteers continued to bustle around the store Wednesday in the hopes that the shop would be open sooner rather than later.
Store manager Nancy Cahoon said a ​“soft opening” tentatively planned for Friday (March 29) would have to be pushed back because the store needs new carpeting and a paint job, but insurance issues haven’t been resolved yet.
Cahoon said the store will open at some point in April.
Five thousand pieces of clothing are being dry-cleaned, Cahoon said, and a professional cleaning company scoured the building in the days after the fire.
“They cleaned from bottom to top, every piece of glassware, every fork, knife, everything has been cleaned,” Cahoon said. ​“We’re waiting on a few things, basically the carpet and the painting.”
Though a minor setback, Cahoon said Valley residents have been more than responsive with contributions in the days since the store put out a call for donations after the fire.
Donations can be made Monday through Saturday at the store’s rear entrance on West Main Street from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
CLICK HERE for My Sister’s Place Facebook page.
Cahoon pointed to a stack of shelves overflowing with donations in the back of the store and said they had been bare on the day of the fire.
And they’re still coming in — a handful of people stopped by to drop off donations during Murphy’s visit alone, including Mayor James Della Volpe, who Cahoon said is a regular contributor.
“It’s been wonderful,” she said. ​“Our call to the community has really come out well. The community has come through very nicely.”
A small army of volunteers — a total of 26 have worked at the store since the fire — and three staff members are working to sort it all out.
Cynde Lane, an Ansonia resident who said she’s been volunteering at My Sister’s Place since last November, said the store’s mission supporting domestic violence victims makes the work extra meaningful.
“You just feel like you’re doing something to give back to the community, and to help people that really need the help,” Lane said. ​“And the customers are fabulous. It’s just a really good place to be.”