The store was named by Pastor Billy Hughes, who explained that in the days of the American frontier the outpost was the building or storefront where you went to purchase supplies, gather with other townspeople, receive guidance or simply get out of the elements. The same holds true for The Outpost Store.

Now preparing for its 20th anniversary celebration, The Outpost was borne from the most humble of beginnings. In 2005, under the leadership of Hughes and his wife Sharon, by way of Belfast, Ireland in 1996, the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church saw a need in the community for a drop in center for people who were in need of guidance or assistance but did not quite feel comfortable stepping into a church to ask for help.

So began the quest to find a location to house the center and funds to operate such a place. George Sanders, owner of the Bucket, had a small store front available for rent on Main Street that Hughes felt was the perfect locale. How to pay the rent to secure the building was next on the agenda. A bank employee at the time, Sharon Hughes decided to set up a dunk tank in the front lawn of the bank – with her in it. People lined up from all over town and paid to take a chance to dunk the pastor’s wife.

After a while, and growing weary, she wanted to take a break and have someone else in the tank. Reminding her of the cause, church member Denny Maze encouraged her to get back onto the platform.

Sharon Hughes in the dunking booth in the bank lawn in 2005 trying to raise rent money to open The Outpost.

“Think of all the money you’re bringing in,” he told her.

Mrs. Hughes followed Maze’s advice – and in that one day of dunking and money raised from the church’s participation in “sale days” held the last Friday of July in Sugar Grove, they raised three month’s worth of rent to bring the dream of The Outpost to life. In 2005 the church opened the store’s doors and never looked back.

After a while the neighboring storefront became available.

“One of the store volunteers mentioned that there were doors between the two shops that opened up” said Mrs. Hughes relaying the story of how The Outpost more than doubled in size. “But how would we fill it?” was the question Hughes posed.

The community answered in kind with more donations. The doors to the other store did open. And so did The Outpost open their minds to furthering their venture. The store is fully staffed by 25 volunteers ranging from 50 to 91 years of age.

“The store keeps us all on their toes,” Hughes said with a laugh. “Where else can a 91 year old get a job?”

All money raised at the store is given back to the community, both locally and around the world. Tithing 10% of that income allows The Outpost to donate larger sums of money to missions each year. This year the store was able to give $7,500 to In Better Hands, a Michigan-based ministry that rescues or assists at-risk children who are abandoned, abused, hungry, have been trafficked or are in danger of being trafficked in Asia.

On Memorial Day weekend alone The Outpost was able to raise $1,500 in sales that was then donated to the local Department of Veterans Affairs as well as Blue Star Mothers of Warren, Pa. Agencies like House of Hope in Warren, Pennsylvania and animal shelters such as Lakewood Kitten Rescue have received gifts as well as donations provided to the Sugar Grove Library fundraiser and car show.

The Outpost has been able to provide community members thousands of dollars in assistance for eye glasses, medical costs, utility bills, transportation and so much more. An Ohio woman found herself unexpectedly in need of suitable funeral attire. She found it at The Outpost and now brings all of her donations there when she is going to be in the area. A Sugar Grove native teaching in New York City provides a running list of books she needs for her classes that are set aside when/if they make their way into the donations received and are taken back by her at each visit.

“We always have more than enough to bless the community” said Hughes, “It became a spider web of things we didn’t expect.”

The double fronted store is a veritable treasure trove of clothing, shoes, housewares, furniture, home decor, books and so much more. A comfortable sitting area offers visitors to the store a place to rest, recharge and reflect or have a conversation.

In celebration of its 20 years of service and giving, the Sugar Grove Free Methodist Church, 210 Jamestown St., Sugar Grove, is host to Outpost Sunday after the 11:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Aug. 17.

“Come for services and stay or just come to the picnic,” said Pastor Sarah King.

All are welcome to attend the celebration full of food, fun, games and stories of The Outpost’s past 20 years. Attendees are asked to please wear an outfit they have purchased from the store.

“There will be cake!” King said with a grin.

The Outpost store hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.