Recovery Store in Montecito busier than ever with more customers and donations

The Recovery Store in Montecito is busier than ever helping survivors of the Thomas Fire and mudslide piece their lives back together.

The store is filled with new and gently used clothing for men, women, and children. Everything is free. Suzanne Hyde lost nearly everything in the Jan. 9 mudslide.

“All my stuff, I don’t even know what happened to my stuff,” she said. “It’s in my driveway covered in mud or it went down the creek and in the ocean.”

Hyde paid a visit to the store located at the Montecito Country Mart and picked up outfits and shoes, including designer brands. She said the new clothing will help her as she looks for a new job.

Berna Kieler is the founder of the Recovery Project, which spawned the Recovery Store and other projects to help survivors.

Kieler said when the store first opened, it took awhile to get the word out to Thomas Fire and flood victims, but now survivors from Ojai, Ventura, and Montecito are coming in.

“They were shy. They were unsure if we really meant that it was for them.” Kieler said. “Once they got started, they started telling their neighbors and their friends.”

Kieler said more donations are coming in and it’s all sorted by a dedicated legion of volunteers. The store is slated to close at the beginning of April, but all of the donated items will not go to waste.

“We will make sure that every single thing that we have received from this community will go to good use,” Kieler said.

Kieler believes there’s a chance the store will be open longer.

The Recovery Store is branching out into home supplies, including bed, bath, and kitchen items.

For more information about The Recovery Project and Store visit their website at http://recoveryprojectsb.com.