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Business

Thrift store provides help to those in need

Posted 5/22/22

Business name: Collectibles Antiques Thrift Store (CATS), 10721 W. Peoria Ave., Sun City; 623-583-1129; ; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

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Business

Thrift store provides help to those in need

Posted

Names: Raymond and Esther Ramirez.

Age: We are both 58.

Business name: Collectibles Antiques Thrift Store (CATS), 10721 W. Peoria Ave., Sun City; 623-583-1129; ; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Personal background highlights: Raymond has been a picker for more than 10 years and enjoys the weird and cool finds, but his career background has been driving tractor trailers and has worked in the Valley of the Sun for more than 20 years.

Professional background highlights: Esther is a social worker and enjoys helping the community. Her background is focused on diverse communities, and she currently works in a homeless shelter and directly works with older adults 50 and older and disabled persons 18 and older. Esther also enjoys volunteering with her parish and is treasurer to a women’s catholic ministry named Magnificat.

What CATS does: It is the duty of Collectibles Antiques Thrift Store and the mission and purpose to aid, coordinate and supply financial aid and relief to the families who live in the communities of Sun City, Youngtown and Peoria. It is our duty to be available when we can supply one of the most important yet basic human rights to ordinary people during times of a financial hardship. Any funds received through the corporation activities will be used exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code and will not be used for personal gains of any sort.

What we like most about doing business here: We are determined to invest our time and goods in helping the people who matter and that is our community! 

What we would like you to know: This nonprofit activity is a charitable cause, the specific goal and purposes of CATS shall be committed to providing hands on assistance, one family at a time; by helping our community with financial aid on rental and utilities. We need your donations, please contact our store directly by calling 623-583-1129. Remember, we are directly helping families in our community!

When and why we started our business/employment here: Ray found a passion for collecting and selling rare items, collectibles, antiques and vintage objects as a part-time hobby. Esther talked him into doing this full-time by operating a thrift store to fund economic hardships to families affected by COVID-19 pandemic. Ray quit his job and funded the project by himself! Ray and Esther partnered up and developed the fundamental structure of the organization and choose Sun City as the home of CATS.

Our family: Raymond and Esther have been a couple for more than 29 years! Raymond was born in Queens, New York and was transplanted in Arizona in 1975 when his father and mother moved the family. Esther was born and raised in Phoenix and is the youngest of eight children. Ray and Esther have three adult children. Matthew lives in Scottsdale and works in hospitality; Rostaylor lives in the Phoenix corridor and works as an office manager for a successful plumbing company; and Desmond is engaged to be married to Marrissa in November 2022 and he lives and works in Phoenix.

Our interests and hobbies: Raymond loves to collect antiques and collectibles. Ray also is also a huge fan of the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets and loves the Phoenix Suns! Esther loves to volunteer at church and is an active member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Catholic Women’s ministry the Phoenix Magnificat. Both Raymond and Esther love to spend time with their families and friends.

People who inspires us (and how): Raymond has always been inspired by his father to become a successful husband, father and family man. Esther is inspired by her faith in God and that love is a necessary ingredient to share with family, neighbors and friends.

Our guiding philosophy: Be kind, always.

Editor’s Note: If you would like your business profiled here, please email rbradshaw@iniusa.org to obtain a form to fill out and return.