It’s not too late to take part in the community food drive taking place through Saturday, May 16,  at What’s On Second? According to Steve Gilmer — co-owner of the popular collectibles shop located at 2306 Second Avenue North downtown — the local United Way food warehouse and the pantries of its distributors are being rapidly depleted as they respond to a large number of requests for  assistance during these tough times. Gilmer and his partner Michele Wilson are trying to help by accepting donations of food at the store. They are also offering discounts on their merchandise to food donors.

Steve Gilmer of What's On Second?

Through Saturday, What’s on Second? will sell virtually any item in the shop (with the exception of some merchandise that belongs to other vendors) at 50 percent off to anyone who brings in at least one large bag or box of nonperishable food. Especially needed is protein, including such items as dried or canned peas and beans, and canned meat or tuna. Donors will receive that 50 percent discount on as many items as they wish to purchase that day (If they want to come back another day, they’ll need to make another donation). They can also obtain the discount by making $25 donations, using cash, check or credit card. The money will be used by Tom Wrzesien of Urban Standard, a café and boutique located at 2320 Second Avenue North, to buy food wholesale for donation to the food bank. What’s On Second? offers hundreds of thousands of collectibles, including art, toys, posters, jewelry, holiday decorations and retro clothing. For more information, call Gilmer or Wilson at (205) 322-2688. Birmingham Weekly wrote about the shop in 2007 in “Memory Business.”

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