By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
January 4, 2012

Drive along Independence Avenue and one store will catch your eye – C.W.L.A. Kids’ Thrift Store.

Colorful polka dots and quirky bubble letters cover the building’s exterior and stepping inside feels almost magical. Leading to the neon pink foyer is a bright green and purple pathway. Inside, a tree grows to the ceiling and cartoon murals line the walls in the playroom.

For a while, the building at 3220 Independence Ave. sat vacant, left with faded memories of past business tenants. Owners of the building, Yummy and Joe Pandolfi, asked themselves what Northeast needed and the answer was a children’s thrift store.

Profits from the thrift store will go toward operating the Christian Worldview Leadership Academy in Smithville, a Classical Christian school the Pandolfis founded and opened this year. Currently catering to kindergarten through first grades, the school is tuition-free.

“We don’t want to exclude anyone based on their ability to pay,” Pandolfi said.

To keep the school tuition-free, the Pandolfis needed another source of income and the idea for a thrift store was born.

“It was a good match for us,” she said. “We really hope that it will not only help support our school, but it will be a nice addition and nice ministry to the neighborhood by providing affordable used clothing to young moms in this neighborhood. So far, we’ve had a fabulous reception.”

Asked why she wanted to open a Christian school, Pandolfi said she saw the need to raise the bar academically and integrate learning with a Christian worldview. Next year, the school will relocate to the Northland and expand to third grade. By 2015, the Pandolfis hope to offer classes for kindergarten through 12th grades.

Pandolfi, who’s worked as a children’s minister and teacher, is currently working on her Doctor of Educational Ministry degree at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Working on her dissertation and trying to open a thrift store at the same time proved challenging.

“This came out of my sleep time pretty much,” Pandolfi said of organizing the thrift store.

Pandolfi collected donated items for the store in her garage and parent volunteers, along with the school’s art teacher, painted the inside and helped organize the store. It officially opened Saturday, Dec. 10.

“We wanted it to be very colorful, very friendly and just a fun place where people will want to come in and want to be here,” she said.

From toys to play yards to clothes, the store offers children’s items at reasonable prices, Pandolfi said. Gently used items are welcome as well as volunteers, she added. Those wishing to volunteer at the store should call Yummy Pandolfi, (816) 694-2263.

One of the goals for the store is to solicit donations from outlets like OshKosh B’gosh and continue to offer quality items.

“I was worried about it since we’re just doing kids stuff, but I think we’ll do okay. It’s made us a little money so far – I think we’ve paid the light bill,” Pandolfi said with a smile.