Building the Valley: Becky's Closet keeps Freeport native's memory alive, helps Harrison community thrive

When Freeport resident Pat McCurdy’s daughter passed away from cancer in 2022, McCurdy couldn’t bear to part with her daughter’s belongings.

“Becky had lots of clothes and lots of shoes, and I didn’t want to just throw everything away,” said McCurdy, a longtime member of Faith Lutheran Church in Harrison.

Together, with church secretary Kelly Misejka, McCurdy devised a way to keep Becky’s memory alive and to also help the community.

Becky’s Closet, a bargain-basement thrift store, is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the church along Broadview Boulevard. What originally was intended to fill one room has grown into a bona fide shopper’s delight, with racks of women’s clothes, children’s apparel, shoes, jewelry and more.

Everything is priced to sell.

“Kid’s stuff is 25 cents; shoes are a dollar,” McCurdy said. “We have a really nice rack of Steelers and Penguins shirts that go for 50 cents.

“We are here to help. We want to keep it reasonable.”

A $2,000 grant from the Ira and Frances Wood Foundation paid for metal clothing racks to display the assortment of tops, dresses, shorts and pants.

Since opening day in January, donors have kept the shelves full. Bags and boxes stuffed with stock fill a former Sunday School classroom. Volunteers, including Mary Lou Beck of Natrona Heights, said the clothes closet has quickly turned into a community resource.

“People seem to really appreciate it,” Beck said.

Joni Yingling, also of Natrona Heights, is a frequent donor — although she admits she likes to peek at what’s for sale, too.

“It’s a great way to get cheap, fashionable clothes,” Yingling said. “I never buy anything unless I bring a bag to donate, but this is a great way for people who don’t have a lot of extra money to shop.”

Halloween costumes, for example, are flying off the racks at $1 each. Families can choose from princesses, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and superheroes for less than the price of a candy bar.

Books, games and DVDs are hot sellers for all ages.

Yingling noted the number of retirees or people on fixed incomes whocome in and browse the racks. There are dresses for special occasions, holiday-themed gear and suit pants for out-of-the-ordinary wear.

“Some people can’t even afford to shop at thrift stores anymore with the way they’re raising prices,” Yingling said. “This is nice for the community.”

An added bonus is that people who qualify for $5 vouchers from the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches, also in Natrona Heights, can spend them at the store.

Proceeds go back to the church, which will mark its 51st anniversary in November.

McCurdy, who was married at Faith Lutheran and baptized her children at the stone church, said it seemed like a good fit to her to launch the clothes closet there in memory of her eldest daughter.

“We started small and became bigger than we ever thought,” she said.

Misejka added: “It’s people from across the community, not just the church. Donors from all over have really helped.”

Items are accepted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays.