by Rich Laughton | Special to the Courier

The Courier’s May 15 Garner House centennial edition highlighted the enduring legacy of Bess and Herman Garner.

A lesser-known addendum to Bess Garner’s considerable community involvement was the creation of the Claremont Economy Shop in 1933.

It started as a project of the Claremont Church Community Service Committee. The first formal minutes in spring of 1941 note a meeting held at the home of Bess Garner in what’s now called the Garner House on a plot of land now known as Memorial Park. In attendance were “Mrs. Langston, Miss Ackerman, Miss Loring, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Dale, and Mr. H.J. Hawkins.” Discussion was held concerning a move to 112 Harvard Ave. and it was voted that all money earned would be “spent for welfare work.”

At the May 10, 1942 meeting the officers elected were, “Mrs. H. Garner, Chair; Mrs. Leon Johnson, Vice-Chair; Miss Lucy Loring, Assistant Vice-Chair/Shop Manager; Mr. H. Hawkins, Treasurer; Mrs. Dale Healy, Secretary.”

In 1947 a committee was formed to find a permanent home for the shop. The following year it purchased the former Associated Telephone Company building at 325 W. First St., where it remains today as a nonprofit thrift shop.

Bess Garner served as president of the Economy Shop from 1949 until her passing in 1951.

As a result of Bess Garner’s commitment, from its beginnings in 1933 until now The Economy Shop has with little fanfare provided grants in excess of $1 million to more than 70 other nonprofit organizations, including Meals on Wheels, Crossroads, Uncommon Good, CLASP, Shoes That Fit, and Hope Partners, as well as welfare assistance to countless people in need.

The Economy Shop still operates under the same guidelines as it did in 1933: staffed 100% by volunteers, returning 100% of its net earnings to Claremont area nonprofits, and supported solely by quality donations from area residents.

I am sure Bess Garner and the founding ladies back in 1933 had no idea that their desire to help others would reach so many.

More info, including a complete history of the Economy Shop and Bess Garner’s involvement is at econclaremont.com.

The Economy Shop is currently closed for remodeling and will reopen August 19.

Rich Laughton is president of the Economy Shop’s Board of Directors.