Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel reported that its Noah’s Ark Thrift Shop is slated to reopen in October. Like the main buildings, it sustained major damage from Hurricane Ian.

Repaired first, the building housed church services and gatherings following the storm, as well as provided free space to displaced island organizations as The Gathering Place @ St. Michael’s. With the main buildings now restored, the church and groups have relocated to the office and main building.

The thrift shop received several upgrades to enhance the building and bring it up to required codes, including an expanded entrance ramp, higher ceilings, scratch-resistant flooring, two ADA accessible restrooms, three new A/C units, a sound system and more.

The process of selecting, purchasing, delivery and assembly of the items needed to display donations will now begin, like racks, shelving and display units, and sorting and check out stations. This will take several months, plus the restocking of merchandiser, with an opening set for the next week in October.

The church reported that donations are not being accepted at this time as there is no place to accept and sort them. Donations can be dropped off at one of several other locations in Fort Myers or kept until Noah’s Ark can again start receiving them, which is expected to be at the end of summer at the earliest.

The thrift shop was created over 60 years ago to provide a way to serve others in need through selling donated items and giving away the proceeds to organizations that aid those in need.

For more information and progress updates, visit visit www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org or https://www.instagram.com/noahsarkthrift.sanibel/ or follow Noah’s Ark Thrift Shop on Facebook.

Noah’s Ark Thrift Shop is at 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.