​246-A Center Ave, Aptos, CA 95003
Shop Telephone: 831-708-4238

About the Helpful Shop

Helpful Shop Summer Hours:
  • Sun. thru Tues. 12 - 4 p.m.
  • Wed. thru Sat. 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

St. John's Helpful Shop was begun in 1953 by the women of the church to raise money for a new church carpet.  As the church grew and no longer needed the income from the shop, it became a vital part of St. John’s outreach program. All net proceeds are given back to the community in the form of grants to local non-profit organizations. 

​Faithful volunteers from the church and the community receive and resell “clean, gently used items,” in good condition, donated by parishioners and community members.  Volunteers are enthusiastic about the benefits they receive from their time at the shop.  Besides providing quality clothing and small household items at an affordable price, the volunteers provide smiles and listening ears for the many who drop in to visit and “pass the time of day.” ​​​
How You Can Help:
  • To volunteer time working in the shop, please contact one of our co-managers;  Loris Gielczyk at [email protected]  or Catherine Ingram [email protected]​ ​
  • To donate items, please drop them off at the shop during open hours. (Please do NOT leave items outside the shop when we are closed.)
2025 Helpful Shop Grants

Grant applications are now closed and the 2025 HS Grants were distributed at a luncheon at St. John's in Feb. 2025. Those awarded a Grant were notified and invited to attend and meet other Grant recipients and volunteers from the shop.

Link to application. Please note:
  1. All information must be complete.
  2. Grants are distributed to local (Santa Cruz County) non-profits.
  3. Grants are not distributed to individuals.
  4. Grant requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.
  5. Grant requests may be emailed to Loris at [email protected] OR Catherine at [email protected] OR mailed to:
Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist
ATTN: Helpful Shop Grants
125 Canterbury Drive
Aptos, CA 95003

​
 PictureA neighborhood thrift store in Aptos, just around the corner from St. John's church
2025 Helpful Shop Grant Recipients

In 2024, the Helpful Shop generated  $49,775 in grant funds, distributed among the following local nonprofit organizations at our Helpful Shop Grants Luncheon on Feb. 22, 2025:​
  • Association of Faith Communities (AFC)
  • Building For Generations
  • CASA of Santa Cruz
  • Damian’s Ladder
  • For Kids Foundation
  • For the Children- Royal Kids Family Kids Camp
  • Free Books for Kids
  • Hospice of Santa Cruz
  • Kairos Prison Ministry
  • Kidpower
  • Live Like Coco
  • Next Stage Productions
  • Paige & Eloise Smith Scholarship Society
  • Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes
  • Prophets of Hope
  • Scouts of America Cub Scout Pack #609
  • Shared Adventures
  • Sienna House
  • Skills of Life Café
  • St. John’s Habitat for Humanity Lunch Program
  • Survivors Healing Center
  • Teen Kitchen Project
  • Valley Churches United (Food Pantry)
  • ​Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz
  • Volunteer Center – Helping Hands/ A Matter of Balance
  • Wings Homeless Advocacy
  • WomenCARE