JAY – When Touch of Class Too opened its doors Friday morning at it’s newest location in Jay Plaza, a longtime employee of Work First cut the opening ribbon and went right to work behind the cash register.

Karen Russell, 56, of Farmington has been a faithful employee of Work First for 27 years, said Linda LaRue-Keniston, executive director, as she and Russell waited for the 10 a.m. opening. Russell was also involved in the opening of the first Touch of Class on the Wilton Road and the second store, Touch of Class Too, on Broadway in Farmington.

Several other employees, families and friends gathered outside waiting for the doors to open for Work First’s third thrift store. Initially, a large store was opened on the Wilton Road near Work First’s location about five years ago. A second store opened on Broadway in Farmington last year. Then the organization, which provides employment to adults with intellectual disabilities, started receiving requests for a store south of Farmington, LaRue-Keniston said.

Welcoming customers with smiles, Russell operates the cash register, hangs and presses clothing and marks items as part of her work, she said. This work is in addition to her part-time work at Hannaford’s in Farmington.

After high school, Work First finds employment for their clients, both within the community and now within their thrift shops, LaRue-Keniston said.

It’s not all work.

“On Tuesdays, we go bowling,” Russell said.

A longtime employee with 25 years experience working for Work First, Lynne Hall of Strong will become the manager of the three stores.

“People are coming in and saying they are really glad to see us come here. They say they need us,” Hall said later in the morning of the response to the store opening.

The Jay store, like the other two, will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a bin will be set up near the door for donations of good, clean clothing.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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