Founded in May 1966, the St. Francis Solano Thrift Program was established as the support group for the education programs of the parish. For many years the organization sponsored very successful semi-annual rummage sales. On July 13, 1976, the first Church Mouse Thrift shop was opened, fully planned, decorated, staffed and stocked by volunteers.
On November 13, 1979, the second Church Mouse opened on the Sonoma Plaza. Finally, an all-under-one-roof workshop, donation and sales center was planned. This new store, the Thrift Center, a 6,000 square foot modular steel building, was erected in Aqua Caliente. It opened for business in 1984.
Combining the talents of parishioners, retirees, parents, grandparents, students & friends, the Church Mouse has grown into a thriving business dedicated to the support of more than 450 students in Sonoma Valley.
Using its organization and facilities, the Church Mouse has become a distribution center and conduit for donations all over the region.
A Sonoma Valley tradition since 1979, and located on Sonoma’s historic Plaza, this store is a hidden gem amidst fine & casual dining venues, wine tasting shops, clothing stores, real estate offices, and gift shops. This location carries an array of curated odds and ends and high-end clothing, shoes, accessories.
Please note, we do not accept donations at this location, but we take them Tuesday through Saturday at our Thrift Center location at 16885 Sonoma Highway. Please call – (707) 996-5115
Downtown Sonoma Plaza Hours
15 East Napa
(707) 938-9797
A thrift destination since it opened for business in 1984, this location is our donation and sorting, as well as sales location. This store carries a wide array of every item imaginable: furniture, clothing (baby, children, women & men), hardware, electronics, shoes, purses, holiday items, sporting goods, cookware & kitchenware, toys, crafts, books, frames, and anything else you can imagine.
Agua Caliente Thrift Center
16885 Sonoma Highway
(707) 996-5115
Bring your clothing, furniture, antiques, collectibles to our Thrift Center location Tuesday through Saturday during our normal business hours. Your donations are tax deductible! The Church Mouse is a 501(c)3 organization.
We also will arrange a pick up! Items MUST be pre-screened and all large item donations are subject to space availability. Pickups are scheduled on Wednesdays or Thursdays, subject to driver availability. For pick up fee, please call the thrift center directly.
FOR MORE INFORMATION (707) 996-5115
We do understand the old adage “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” but there are some items that we don’t accept, and thus we hope you understand that we cannot accept ALL donations. Items that have any of the following characteristics, are unacceptable donations:
- have stains or tears or strong odors
- are covered in pet/animal hair
- are not in working condition (broken parts, chipped, cracked, etc.)
- are outdated beyond usefulness (electronics specifically)
- we cannot resell (car seats, mattresses, weapons, etc.
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Donations not accepted:
- Baby Equipment: cribs, car seats, high chairs, etc.
- Electric Blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Inflatable Beds
- Bed skirts, unless in new package
- Beds/bed frames
- Heavy furniture/sofas
- Large exercise equipment
- Computers/Monitors/Laptops
- Large light fixtures/ceiling fans
- Weapons
Solutions to consider for items we cannot accept:
- there are locations throughout the county that will take some items for free that are considered recyclable. Check the county website for more info.
- Craigslist is a GREAT place for getting rid of items for FREE. What people won’t buy because of blemishes, they will sometimes take off your hands for free. There are other sites like Nextdoor where you can post items for sale or for free. Facebook has Sonoma Valley Hitch & Barter, Sonoma Garage Sales & Trade, and many more
Volunteer Opportunities (subject to change)
St. Francis Church Mouse Thrift Stores have volunteer opportunities at both of our stores. If you enjoy working with the public and have good customer services skills, we have the job for you. Job duties would include making sales, answering the telephone, tagging and pricing merchandise and stocking. We would schedule 3-4 hour shifts, once a week on the day that you are available. If you are interested in working with friendly, caring people and helping support St. Francis Solano School, please contact the Thrift Center at (707) 996-5115.
St. Francis Family Voluntee
r Hours
The Church Mouse has provided a continuing, substantial subsidy to St. Francis Solano School for more than 30 years. St. Francis Solano School is the only Catholic school in the Diocese blessed to be subsidized by a thrift store. Family volunteer hours make the difference.
Each St. Francis Solano school family commits to 2 hours of volunteer work per student, per month. Hours can be completed in any of the stores or by picking up work to take home. Grandparents, in-laws, aunts, uncles, and friends may help families achieve their hours.
8th Grade Service Hours (Please check with St. Francis School as this policy is subject to change)
Thrift Center (707) 996-5115
Sonoma Plaza (707) 938-9797
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Visit us at either our (1) North Valley Thrift Center location at 16885 Sonoma Highway or at our (2) Downtown Plaza location at 15 East Napa Street.
To contact us, please
call (707)996-5115
email stfrancischurchmouse@gmail.com