Business of the Month — October: Cameron Area Christian Services Thrift Shop

CAMERON, TX — Every small town has a place where one neighbor's generosity quietly becomes another neighbor's answered prayer. In Cameron, that place sits at 300 S. Houston Ave., and this month the Cameron Community Voice is proud to name the Cameron Area Christian Services Thrift Shop our October Business of the Month.

Part thrift store, part food pantry, part helping hand in a crisis, the shop is the storefront of Cameron Area Christian Services — a homegrown, Christ-centered ministry that Cameron's churches built together and that local families have leaned on for nearly four decades.

A ministry Cameron's churches built together

The story starts in September 1987, when ministers from Cameron-area churches, working through the Cameron Ministerial Alliance, opened the Christian Services thrift store to help local people in need. Church ladies from across town volunteered to run it, and from the very beginning the giving had a personal touch — at Thanksgiving and Christmas, needy families received sacks of food to help carry their holiday tables.

That same spirit runs the shop today. Cameron Area Christian Services is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its tax filings tell a story any donor can feel good about: no paid executives and no paid staff at all — executive compensation and salaries are listed at $0. The money that comes in goes back out into Milam County. In 2024, the organization reported about $225,600 in revenue, with roughly $182,800 of it coming through thrift store sales — in other words, rack by rack and shelf by shelf, shoppers themselves are funding the mission.

The treasure hunt

If you've never been in, here's what you're missing. The racks hold clothing for the whole family at prices that make a family's budget breathe easier. The shelves turn over constantly — household goods, books, furniture, and the occasional designer find hiding between the everyday bargains. Regulars know the secret: check back often, because the best treasures don't sit still for long. Reviewers online give the shop a 4.9 out of 5, and locals praise it the way neighbors do — great finds, great prices, and great people.

Fall is an especially fun season to hunt. Need a Halloween costume that won't scare your wallet? This is the place to build one. Coats and jackets are arriving just as the first cool fronts do, and with Trunk or Treat and the holidays ahead, a thrift-store find or two can stretch a celebration a long way.

And every so often, the deals get even better — the Chamber newsletter spread the word in September about half-off sale days at the shop, so it pays to watch for sale announcements.

Where the help goes

Here's the part that makes this Business of the Month different: shopping here is only half the story.

Cameron Area Christian Services operates a food pantry for local families. It provides low-cost clothing to folks who need it. And when disaster strikes close to home — a house fire, a storm, one of those nights nobody plans for — the ministry offers what its listings call "rescue services," helping families affected by fires and other natural disasters with essentials like furniture and clothing to start over.

So the arithmetic of this little shop is beautiful: a jacket donated on Tuesday becomes a warm coat on a neighbor's back, a few dollars in the register, and groceries in a pantry box — all without leaving Milam County.

Run on volunteers — maybe including you

None of it happens without volunteers, and the shop is glad to welcome more hands. First Baptist Cameron's ministry page lists the ways folks serve: clothing sorting volunteers, donation and distribution center volunteers, and teen service opportunities — a fine way for a young person to earn service hours while doing real good. To raise your hand, call the shop at (254) 697-2283 or email camerontxchristianthriftshop@gmail.com.

Cleaning out a closet? Donations of gently used clothing, furniture, and household goods are the shop's lifeblood — they become next week's inventory and next month's assistance. If you're bringing a larger load, call ahead and the shop can tell you the best time to come by.

New this fall: Second Saturdays

The shop recently joined the downtown fun, opening on Second Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the Chamber's "Stay a While" Second Saturday in downtown Cameron — the next one is Saturday, November 14. And the shop is the newest member of the Cameron Community Voice family, too: Cameron Area Christian Services has just become a sponsor of the Voice, and we're honored to celebrate them with this month's feature. Looking further ahead, the Chamber's annual Trunk or Treat fills the downtown square on Saturday, October 31, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. — a perfect excuse to stop in beforehand and thrift yourself a costume.

Regular hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (see editor's note above).

So stop in, Cameron. Dig through the racks, find your treasure, and know that every dollar you spend and every bag you donate turns right back around into food, clothing, and help for your neighbors. That's not just a good business — that's a good neighbor, and it's why the Cameron Area Christian Services Thrift Shop is our October Business of the Month.

Cameron Area Christian Services Thrift Shop, 300 S. Houston Ave., Cameron, TX 76520. Phone: (254) 697-2283. Email: camerontxchristianthriftshop@gmail.com.