Starting today, “Best Nonprofit” title-holder The Butter Paddle (so-named in our Best of Los Gatos issue, last week) is celebrating its 15-year anniversary in Los Gatos. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be attended by Mayor Matthew Hudes. At 4pm the store will introduce its new holiday items, after closing for the prior two days in anticipation of the new arrivals. Over 70 volunteers work at the Butter Paddle, with all the proceeds going to charity. It’s been in operation since 1967, when they first opened in Saratoga.
With a sign update and fresh paint on the face of the store, the volunteers of the Butter Paddle are ready to welcome customers back. Lauri Beck, a buyer for the Butter Paddle for the last five years, has been with the store for a total of seven years as a volunteer. “Really, the most exciting thing for our loyal customers is that the store will be completely changed into a Christmas winter-wonderland,” Beck said. “So, it’s really the first opportunity for people to shop for holiday merchandise and gifts. It kicks-off the holiday season” This Saturday, the store will host a celebration with live music, food and drinks. A donation of $15 towards Pacific Clinics allows people to participate in a raffle to win a Christmas plate, from Annieglass, worth over $100.
Local artists, a women-owned business and children’s toys are some of the things customers love about the Butter Paddle. If that isn’t enough incentive, all proceeds from the Butter Paddle go to their charity—Pacific Clinics. Their marketing chair, Lora Knol, says that this celebration is also for the volunteers. “I’ve put together some materials that explain our history that will be prominently displayed during the celebration, and we spend a lot of time on this store to bring back to the community,” Knol said.
‘We put a call out to the community and our members for donations, and they came through’
—Teresa Souvignier, store manager
Store Manager Teresa Souvignier reflected on the big milestone, explaining that the store has a more eclectic offering since transitioning locations. “When the store opened in Saratoga, it was primarily a kitchen store,” she said. Souvignier has served as assistant manager and treasurer, for a total of 11 years as a volunteer with the store. When she looks back on her time helping out, she can’t help but remember the difficult days of the Covid-19 era. “The pandemic was a very difficult time,” she said. “We put a call out to the community, and our members, for donations, and they came through—and helped get us through. It meant the world to us. It meant that we could stay in business.”
The loyalty of their following has built quite the community of volunteers. Because, these people know that the time and effort—and money—is all going towards a good purpose. Towards charity. The volunteers describe themselves as a big sorority, and most recently a group of 31 of them went on a trip to Pismo Beach as a bonding retreat. Buyer Beck highlights the uniqueness of the Butter Paddle by saying, “It’s really nice if you live in a close radius and run into town, as it’s much more personal, if you need house-warming gifts, than just going to the mall.”
The Butter Paddle’s ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place at their store at 33 N. Santa Cruz Ave on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m; the public celebration is set for Saturday, Oct. 25 from 11am-5pm.
