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Davis Journal

40-year-old gift shop set to close Oct. 12

Oct 14, 2024 03:10PM ● By Becky Ginos

All gifts will be sold at discounted prices Saturday at the Ark & Olive Branch gift shop in Centerville. Courtesy photo

It’s been 40 years since the Ark & Olive Branch gift shop opened in Centerville and on Saturday, Oct. 12 it will close. The shop started as an interfaith effort between the Bountiful Community Church and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection (ECOR). 

“The gift shop was started by Bountiful Community Church Priest David Schmidt and his wife Norma,” said Linda Besselievre, head volunteer. “I helped set it up. Then when they were transferred I took over the management.”

The Bountiful Community Church and ECOR were ecumenically yoked for 30 years, she said. “I ran the shop at the Bountiful Community Church. When they became separate I moved the shop to the current location.”

All of the gift shop sales go to an outreach fund to help charities like the Bountiful Food Pantry, the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake City and more recently, the Teen Centers at Woods Cross and Bountiful High schools, said Besselievre. “It’s mostly local charities but sometimes national.”

It’s not all religious materials, she said. “We have books, glassware, toys, etc.” 

The church also does a monthly community dinner that is open and free to anyone, Besselievre said. “We join with other religious communities, such as the Bountiful Community Church and the LDS church. We’ve had as many as 220 and last month we had 149. We send home meals in styrofoam containers for seniors.”

Besselievre said they always accept donations. “Half goes to the Food Pantry and Ladies of Charity and half we keep for the next dinner.”

The dinner is held the third Wednesday of the month from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the ECOR, 1131 S. Main, Centerville.

“Even though the Ark & Olive Branch is closing, our parish is still invested in embracing others in such a way that they find a safe place to be themselves without fear of judgment,” said Reverend Charles Robinson of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. “That means it’s vital for us as a church to still support those organizations that help the needy among us and develop interfaith relationships with churches in the community to bring about a greater good.” 

The Ark & Olive Branch will have its last day of business on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the ECOR Social Hall at 1131 South Main Street in Centerville. All gifts will be on sale at discounted prices. Not all items are religious in nature, there are table linens, antique place settings, holiday decorations and gorgeous handmade quilts donated by The Saucy Stitchers (the ECOR quilters guild). 

“I’ve enjoyed doing it,” said Besselievre. “I’m sad to see it go – but it’s time.” λ