Jubilee Ministries

Jubilee Ministries operates a large secondhand retail store at 235 S 12th St in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, occupying two shopping floors in the city's downtown area. The store sells donated clothing, furniture, housewares, books, media, toys, tools, sporting goods and seasonal merchandise, with inventory that changes continuously as new donations arrive and are processed. Unlike a consignment shop or an antique mall, the store functions as the retail arm of a nonprofit organization, meaning that revenue from sales supports charitable programming rather than private ownership.

The Lebanon location is one of the more substantial thrift retail spaces in Lebanon County, both in square footage and in the breadth of departments carried under one roof. Shoppers can generally expect to find apparel for men, women and children, shoes and accessories, kitchen and dining items, small appliances, home decor, linens, craft and hobby supplies, furniture, and a rotating assortment of collectibles and specialty goods.

The Organization Behind the Store

Jubilee Ministries is a Pennsylvania nonprofit with a faith based mission centered on prison ministry, reentry support and services for individuals and families affected by incarceration. The organization has worked in central Pennsylvania for decades, providing services that have historically included in prison mentoring and discipleship, transitional housing and aftercare for men leaving correctional facilities, family support, and connections to employment and community resources. Its thrift store operations exist primarily to generate sustainable funding for that work and, in some cases, to provide job training and employment opportunities for program participants.

For customers, the practical result is that ordinary purchases (a set of dishes, a winter coat, a bookcase) function as a contribution to locally delivered social services.

Departments and Merchandise

The store's floor plan is organized into distinct departments rather than a single undifferentiated sales floor, which is typical of larger thrift operations that process high donation volume. Departments commonly include:

• Clothing for adults and children, including outerwear, workwear, dresses and everyday basics
• Shoes, handbags, belts, jewelry and other accessories
• Housewares such as glassware, dinnerware, cookware, small kitchen appliances and storage items
• Home decor, wall art, lamps, mirrors and frames
• Furniture, including sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames and shelving
• Books, puzzles, board games, DVDs, records and other media
• Toys, baby equipment and children's items
• Tools, hardware, outdoor equipment and sporting goods
• Craft supplies, fabric, yarn and project materials
• Seasonal and holiday merchandise, rotated throughout the year

Because the store relies entirely on donated inventory, stock is unpredictable by nature. Regular shoppers typically visit on a repeating schedule rather than searching for one specific item, since selection turns over frequently and individual pieces are usually one of a kind. Name brand apparel, gently used home goods and furniture in serviceable condition appear routinely alongside more ordinary secondhand stock.

Furniture and Delivery

The furniture department is one of the store's larger sections and is a notable feature for a thrift retailer of this type. Larger pieces are displayed on the sales floor where shoppers can inspect condition and dimensions before buying. For customers without a truck or help loading, the store has offered a paid delivery option for furniture purchases within a local radius. Delivery availability, fees and scheduling can vary, so it is worth confirming details by phone before purchasing a large item. Buyers should also bring their own measurements, as secondhand furniture is sold as is and typically cannot be held indefinitely.

Store Layout and Shopping Experience

The two floor layout allows the store to separate bulkier categories from apparel and smaller goods, which keeps aisles navigable even when donation volume is high. Clothing is arranged by category and by size on the racks, a merchandising practice that reduces the amount of sorting a shopper has to do compared with stores that group garments only by type or color. Staff and volunteers handle sorting, pricing, restocking and display work on an ongoing basis, and merchandise is generally cleaned and checked before it reaches the floor.

Seasonal displays are assembled throughout the year, with holiday decor, artificial trees, ornaments, serving pieces and gift items grouped into dedicated areas as the calendar turns. These setups often double as styling suggestions, showing how secondhand pieces can be combined or repurposed for a room or a table.

Donations

Donated goods are the sole source of the store's inventory, and the organization accepts household donations from the public. Commonly accepted items include clothing, shoes, furniture in usable condition, housewares, decor, books, media, toys and small appliances. Certain categories are typically restricted for safety, liability or disposal cost reasons, which can include items such as large appliances, mattresses, recalled products, hazardous materials and non working electronics. Donors should contact the store directly to confirm current accepted items, drop off procedures and whether pickup service is available for large furniture donations. Receipts for tax purposes are generally available at the time of donation.

Location, Access and Parking

The store sits on South 12th Street in Lebanon, within easy reach of the Cumberland Street corridor and convenient to surrounding communities including Palmyra, Annville, Cleona, Myerstown, Jonestown and Richland, as well as shoppers traveling from Lancaster, Dauphin and Berks counties. The property includes a parking lot with wheelchair accessible parking, and the building has a wheelchair accessible entrance, which is useful for customers using mobility devices or loading purchases directly to a vehicle.

Practical Information

• Address: 235 S 12th St, Lebanon, PA 17042
• Phone: +1 717-274-7528
• Business type: thrift store operated by a nonprofit ministry
• Accessibility: wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking lot

Shoppers planning a first visit may want to allow extra time, since the two floors and wide range of departments take longer to browse than a single room resale shop. Calling ahead is recommended for questions about current hours, sale days or promotions, furniture availability, delivery arrangements and donation drop off. Because merchandise is secondhand, items are sold in their existing condition, and buyers are encouraged to inspect electronics, furniture joints, zippers and similar details before checkout.