High-Profile Items to Mark Thrift Opening

Garments used as costumes in the films “The Postman,” starring Kevin Costner, and “Fear,” with Mark Wahlberg, will be donated as part of the opening of a new thrift store in Canoga Park today.

The high-profile donations will be on sale during the grand opening of Out of the Closet, a thrift store run by the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

“All of us at Out of the Closet and AIDS Healthcare Foundation thank these film companies for these generous and much-appreciated donations,” said John Nieto, general manager of the thrift store chain.

The new 7,700-square-foot facility, situated on the northwest corner of Sherman Way and Owensmouth Avenue, is the third Out of the Closet to open in the Valley and 15th in Southern California, Nieto said. In May, the chain opened a store on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana. The first Valley store, in North Hollywood, opened in July 1996.

In addition to the garments used in the films, the store’s inventory includes clothing for men, women and children, records, tapes, compact discs, books, electronic items such as televisions, stereos and lamps, kitchenware and furniture, Nieto said.

Ninety-five cents of every dollar from the store and other Out of the Closet facilities are used by the foundation to provide medical and hospice services for people with AIDS or HIV in Los Angeles County, he said.

“Last year, we raised $1.5 million from all our stores,” Nieto said. “This year, with the addition of the new stores, we’re hoping to raise $2 million.”

The new store, at 21703 Sherman Way, will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Those wishing to make donations can call Out of the Closet’s toll free number at (800) 558-8220.