How we got started

In 1980, at the request of the Northern Virginia Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), four charitable organizations sat around a kitchen table to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition whose purpose would be to open a thrift shop. On January 11, 1981, Yesterday's Rose opened its doors to the public with a core of volunteers, racks and shelves of gently used clothing, shoes and houseware and we all held our collective breath. The Fairfax community welcomed us with open arms from that day forward and we have never looked back! During the past 20 years, Yesterday's Rose has distributed over $2.5 million to the charities within the coalition family: The American Red Cross, National Capital Area Chapter, The Association for Retarded Citizens of Northern Virginia, The National Council of Jewish Women-Northern Virginia Section and ServiceSource (formerly Fairfax Opportunities Unlimited). Our volunteers have logged an average of 144,000 hours of work. We’ve developed partnerships with the Juvenile Court of Fairfax County, OAR, Boys Probation House, Volunteer Fairfax as well as community service programs in neighboring counties. Many high school seniors enjoy working the required community service hours at our store. We have become a permanent welcome fixture in the neighborhood and the "social scene" for many local neighbors. Realizing the need for more space, Yesterday's Rose moved to its current location (in the former Total Crafts store) in May 2001. With 13,000 sq. ft, Yesterday's Rose has become one of the largest thrift shops in the Washington metropolitan area. We proudly display racks of gently used clothing and shoes. Our shelves hold all kinds of housewares, stereos, electronics, small appliances, etc and our display cabinets showcase many treasures and collectibles. Our army of volunteers is the "heart" of our operation and we always welcome new recruits! In addition, a small paid staff and a full time "enclave" team of disabled adults help keep Yesterday's Rose running smoothly. Our monthly sales calendar boasts an aggressive, exciting sales campaign that is well received by our customers. New donations arrive everyday. New merchandise is brought to the sales floor everyday. And everyday, we remember that time 20 years ago when we sat down at a kitchen table to discuss the dream of opening a thrift shop!