Santa Clarita Valley’s ACS Discovery Shop Celebrates its 5th Anniversary

In 1965, American Cancer Society volunteer, Denise Noel, had an innovative idea she called the Discovery Shop. Seeking a way to raise money for cancer research after losing her mother to the disease, she founded the first Discovery Shop in Sherman Oaks.
It was an original concept — an upscale, volunteer-run resale store offering gently used clothing and other donated items, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. Today there are 59 Discovery Shops in California, Washington, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan and Virginia, all funding programs, services, and cancer research.
The first Discovery Shop in Santa Clarita opened in 1998 in the same Bouquet Shopping Center where it is currently located. After it closed, Santa Clarita was without a Discovery Shop for many years.
When the opportunity arose to expand the shops, Josette Guidos, a 20-year ACS staff member who managed both the Sherman Oaks and Burbank shops, suggested a Santa Clarita location.
The new shop opened in February 2020, but sadly had to shut its doors just 15 days later due to the Covid pandemic. It reopened in June after months of closure and has been serving the community ever since. This year has been its most successful in raising funds and promoting cancer awareness.
Manager Guidos says, “We’ve been blessed by the community which supports us by shopping and donating gently used items.” Most of the volunteers who started with her in 2020 are still working at the shop and have become a family. Guidos says, “This wonderful group has created the success we are experiencing.”
She continues, “We’re excited to celebrate our fifth year, and our goal is to see the shop grow and continue to support the ACS mission.” Oftentimes, the shop’s volunteers are a customer’s first contact with ACS. The Discovery Shop offers literature, contact numbers for services, and the volunteers provide compassionate listening skills since many have been through some part of the cancer process.
ACS relies on consumer generosity, so we invite you to shop, donate or volunteer at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. Be a part of the movement to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For Discovery Shop information, contact josette.guidos@cancer.org or call 661) 296-8460.