AbleLight Thrift Shops fund mission to help adults with disabilities

GREEN BAY, WI—(WGBW)— Sunday, August 17, 2025,  marks National Thrift Shop Day.  AbleLight is a non-profit organization in Wisconsin and other parts of the Midwest assisting adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

It funds its mission through the AbleLight Thrift Stores. 

“So 100% of our profits go back to fund the services that help people with disabilities,” said Laura Choronzy, District Manager of AbleLight Thrift stores in Wisconsin. 

Choronzy explains that over 40 percent of the employees of an AbleLight Thrift Shop are adults with disabilities, but that is not where the services end.

 ”And many of them have been with us for over 14 years and have developed within their roles, so have come as a volunteer, went into a sales associate, and then moved on to a key holder status. So some really neat growth that has happened,” Choronzy said. “We do everything from housing insecurities, dealing with isolation, health and wellness, employment issues. So we have group homes, camps, some independent living services. So quite a few things go beyond our actual thrift shops.”

Choronzy said AbleLight’s mission is not just something written on paper, but is something you can see at the thrift shops and in the community.

“We have a really neat standing in today’s society in the sense that our mission is based through Christian Love. So AbleLight wholeheartedly supports and advocates for all people with developmental disabilities to ensure that they have security, dignity, and hope. Not only is that our overreaching mission, but I really feel like if you walk into a store, and especially our Green Bay store, you see that. You see the camaraderie; you see the development going on, and that’s just something that I’m proud of,” she said.

The AbleLight thrift shop in Green Bay is transforming. Right now, it is closed as the organization moves the thrift store to a new location, a nearly herculean task completed by community members and supporters of the organization.

“We’re working with high schools, other third-party agencies, and doing a lot of volunteer experiences. And if you look at our Facebook, especially the Green Bay store, you’ll often see pictures or celebrations of these groups coming. And they’ve helped us move, they’ve helped us prepare and clean, um, definitely helping us do things like process donations and price, and they’re just the bread and butter of that store,” said Choronzy.

Choronzy said they are always looking for volunteers in Green Bay to help with the mood. And, of course, donations are always needed to keep the sales shelves fresh and full.

“We really take anything from home goods to crafting, knick-knacks, and so if you have leftover yarn or anything like that, or crafting pieces, office pieces, toys. Clothing is a big part of our business – luggage. You know, we also take furniture,” said Choronzy. “The few things we don’t take are probably those things that you would think of that are hard to make sure are in good working order. That would be something like a refrigerator or a washer-dryer.”

The new Green Bay store at 2269 True Lane in Ashwaubenon will open September 5th. In the meantime, there are other AbleLight thrift shops throughout Wisconsin, including those in Neenah, Appleton, Wausau, Horicon, Eau Claire, and Watertown. 

For information on donating, volunteering, or any of the services offered by AbleLight, visit their website at AbleLight.org or the Facebook page of your closest location.