New Volunteer Appreciation Program at Bargain Basket

The Bargain Basket, Marco Island’s famous thrift store on Bald Eagle Drive, has started a new program for rewarding their 160-plus volunteers. And what better time to roll out the new program than on Pastor Mark Williams’ birthday.

The Bargain Basket is a mission of United Church of Marco. A very successful mission at that. Every morning a crowd of shoppers wait for the doors to open. And things don’t slow down too often throughout the day.

“Jessica’s intention is to celebrate our volunteers more often,” said Samantha Arago, manager of outreach and marketing for United Church of Marco. Arago managed the Bargain Basket for four years. “One of the big things that the Bargain Basket committee is doing is more quarterly events, instead of just the one big appreciation event. Monthly they want to have a barbecue and stagger the days they have it so volunteers who work different shifts can attend. It’s just a fun way to get together and eat and celebrate their hard work.

Arago had kind words for current Bargain Basket manager Jessica McElroy.

“Jessica's doing a great job,” Arago said, “we’re on track to meet our goals before year’s end. The store looks great. Her love of the volunteers and her wanting to celebrate them more often just shows how important they are and how she cares about them.”