Wednesday, October 25, 2017
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
Chairs, desks and couches. Coffee makers, decor and cups.
The shelves and floor of St. Vincent de Paul Society’s thrift store have filled up over the past month, but the society still needs more donated items to sell in support of its Youngstown pantry and dining hall for the needy.
The thrift store also needs customers in need of little or big treasures they may not find anywhere else.
“It’s a good supplement for income,” Jessica Robinson, executive director for the Mahoning County District of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, said of the thrift store.
St. Vincent runs on donations, Robinson explained. Ten years ago, the nonprofit had a thrift store to help supplement income from donations. Over the past year, St. Vincent officials worked to get another thrift store going.
“The past three months have been steady collecting,” Robinson said. “We were storing in our members’ garages. We found the warehouse space Oct. 1.”
The warehouse space at 221 Court St. is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The thrift store sells only furniture and household items. Items for sale can be found on the Mahoning County St. Vincent de Paul thrift store Facebook page.
Clothing and other donations go directly to the clients they serve instead of being sold.
In the future, St. Vincent plans to start a voucher system with Catholic Charities Diocese of Youngstown and other local organizations. The organizations will be able to send people to the thrift store with vouchers of a certain amount to get what they need.
Cash is currently accepted at the thrift store, and a credit-card system will soon be installed.
“Our volunteers have been out getting stuff,” Robinson said. “We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help us get [items] and sell [them].”
To donate to the thrift store, call the St. Vincent office at 330-333-3601.