From 30 years at the Flea Market to growing into the Kiwanis Marketplace Thrift Store
In the 1980s, the Kiwanis Club of Carefree decided to try selling used household goods as a special fund raising event – a simple multi-household yard sale.
Thirty years later in one of the largest buildings in the town core of Cave Creek, the Kiwanis Marketplace is constantly bustling five days per week with activity selling the donated items of some of the Valley’s wealthiest residents from all the nearby communities including Cave Creek, Carefree, and North Scottsdale.
It’s hard to believe that this huge second-hand retail operation began as a small flea market with annual sales of only a few thousand dollars. The current store opened in August of 2014 and sales have continued to grow. There are over 150 volunteers to help operate the store. They are community volunteers who want to contribute to the many projects that Kiwanis supports in the community that focus mainly on children’s programs.
Donations may be made during normal business hours and items may be brought to the back door of the building. Additionally, volunteers can pick up larger items or even smaller items by calling 480-488-8400 to arrange a pick up.
Volunteers are also encouraged to assist in the operations of the store. It takes more than 100 volunteer to operate the store. You don’t need to be a Kiwanis member to be part of the team. More information is available at https://kiwanismarketplace.org/volunteers/