NORTHWOOD, Iowa — Ramona Pierce got the news about mid-November.

The building that housed the Share Shoppe, located across from the fire station in Northwood, had sold. Pierce had until Jan. 1 to find a new home for the shop, which she manages.

“A big thank you to Tom Capranos for opening up his building to us,” she said.

With that bit of luck and a bit more help, the Share Shoppe has now moved into its new location, the former home of Alltel at 733 Central Ave. The target grand re-opening in its new home is Feb. 3.

And although the place is in a bit of disarray as Pierce and her staff of volunteers get the merchandise settled in, anyone is still invited to stop and shop.

The Share Shoppe is a nonprofit organization that provides gently-used clothing, bedding and household items to people at prices its shoppers can afford. Pierce said many of its shoppers are people who cannot afford the prices on the shelves of local retail outlets.

It’s also a source of help during times of disaster, such as fires. Pierce said if there’s a crisis, she will come open the shop to help those in need.

Pierce said there are a lot of regulars, and no one is ever turned away.

The Share Shoppe differs from consignment shops because it does not pay people for the goods it takes in; all items for sale are taken in from donations.

What also makes this unique is that most items are sold at a suggested price, meaning buyers name the price they can afford to pay. They can take what they need or what they choose and leave a donation rather than paying a price marked on the items.

If someone purchasing merchandise does not feel comfortable naming a price, volunteers working at the store will suggest an amount to donate for payment. The only items that actually have sale prices marked on them are some paintings and wood carvings, which were donated by Capranos, owner of North Woods Cabinetry.

All of the employees are volunteers, a duty shared by members of 10 area churches. All of the donations and proceeds from the sale of the items go back into the shop, minus the monthly rent and utilities.

The shop does, however, get some help on the rent, as Pierce said the First Lutheran Churches in Northwood and St. Ansgar, Iowa, donate at least one month’s rent each year.

The Shoppe moved to Northwood from Carpenter, Iowa, in 2002. Since that time, its unique system of providing goods to anyone in need has become widespread. Pierce said it extends its services to people from the Albert Lea area as well as from across north Iowa, from Lake Mills to Mason City, St. Ansgar to Osage, and everywhere in between.

In fact, a very similar nonprofit organization, Shop on State, which opened in 2009 in Osage, Iowa, was patterned directly after the Share Shoppe.

Pierce said the services it provides are invaluable and over the past year, she’s really seen business pick up.

“It’s something that’s very badly needed with this economy,” she said. “You never know when hard times are going to knock at your door.”

This December, she said, was an especially busy time as people were looking for winter coats and boots for children of all ages. Other popular items always needed at the shop include dishes, kitchenware and blankets.

“Blankets are always a big item,” Pierce said. “We can always use bedding of any kind.”

Pierce said financial donations have gone down in the past year, as well.

The Share Shoppe provides, and takes in all kinds of clothing, from infant to plus-sizes, shoes and winter boots. Because the merchandise is from the donations taken in, there are new and different items to choose from each day it is open.

To donate or shop at the Share Shoppe:

Where: new location at 733 Central Ave., Northwood (formerly the home of Alltel)

When: open Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon