A new nonprofit thrift store built around supporting older adults in Edgewater is preparing to open its doors next month. My Angel's Attic, described by its founder as a "thrift store with a purpose," will open in May at 2146 S. Riverside Drive, Suites 9-11, according to reporting from Hometown News Volusia.

The shop is an extension of Guardian Angel Senior Transition Services, an Edgewater-based nonprofit that founder Deborah Norton launched in 2020 to help seniors navigate major life changes. Proceeds from the thrift store will fund direct aid for local seniors, and parts of the space are being set aside for socialization and free essentials rather than retail.

How the store is structured

Inside the shop, Norton plans to run two dedicated rooms alongside the regular floor. The Senior Essentials Closet will be a private, no-questions-asked room stocked with free essential items — the kind of quiet help Norton says "restores dignity and eases the difficult choices many face." The Halo Room is intended as a community space where local seniors can gather, spend time together, and take part in activities.

Beyond the store's walls, Norton told Hometown News the nonprofit plans to use proceeds to help fund items that often fall outside a fixed income — medical equipment, transportation, and home repairs.

Why the project exists

Norton said the idea grew out of caring for her own parents in their final years and from the years that followed launching Guardian Angel. "Over the years, I have received numerous heartfelt calls from seniors facing significant hardships," she said. "Many struggled to afford basic necessities." The thrift store concept clicked, she said, after repeated donation runs on behalf of a single client.

Community donations have already been arriving. Norton said the response has been strong enough to fill multiple storage units with goods, some of which are being redirected straight to seniors in need, with the rest sold to fund other forms of assistance.

What it means for Edgewater

Edgewater has a sizable older-adult population, and small-scale, neighborhood-run aid networks have historically played a significant role in supporting residents who are on fixed incomes or aging in place. A storefront that combines affordable goods, a free essentials room, and a community gathering space in one building is an unusual format for the area, and Norton is framing it less as a retail opening than as a community resource.

How to get involved

My Angel's Attic is still accepting donations ahead of its opening. Residents who want to donate goods, volunteer, or ask about the nonprofit's broader services can contact Norton at (386) 895-6006 or visit myangelsattic.org. The store is expected to open in May at 2146 S. Riverside Drive, Suites 9-11, in Edgewater.