Treasures Abound

Long time customer, Carolyn.

The Sacred Heart Southern Missions Thrift Store has been a valuable resource for the community since the late 1940s, providing clothing, toys and household items for pennies on the dollar. It also serves as the place SHSM social workers send those who are most in need, to find necessary items at no charge. Functioning as a fundraising hub of sorts, the proceeds from the thrift store are used to purchase food for SHSM food pantries. One might say that it is all-inclusive.

Carolyn has been coming to the SHSM Thrift Store since she was six years old, so it was no surprise that she showed up for the big sale on August 4th. “I started coming back in 1948 or 49,” said Carolyn. “My grandparents lived around the corner from the store when it was in Walls.”

“We have lots regulars who have been coming to the store for years,” said Thrift Store Manager Debra.

Carolyn comes almost every day to check out the new merchandise. But Carolyn is not the only long time customer the store has. Jackie recalls the Walls location as well. “My momma had 19 kids, so the thrift store was important to us. I made sure that I was good all week, because I knew my momma would bring me to the store with her on the weekend,” said Jackie. “It’s still fun!”

“Super Thrift Store Clerk” Larry Gales keeps the customers checked and the merchandise flowing.

The SHSM Thrift Store has seen a steady increase in sales over the past year. The first month of the new fiscal year yielded sales of almost 60% more than the same time last year, and almost double that of July 2013. It is the best single month of sales for the store in more than 6 years. Fiscal year 2014 was also a record-setter in sales, and it showed a healthy 24 percent increase in revenue over 2013.

A good stream of better quality merchandise is a contributing factor to the record sales, as are the efforts of the staff. “We received a donation left over from an estate sale recently,” said Debra. “Sr. Adelia and Sr. Antonienne also donated a large box of jewelry and other items that we could use in the 50 cent and dollar range. We have been getting more donations and better stuff, and that makes all the difference.”

Debra and her staff spend a lot of time organizing the donations “Super Thrift Store Clerk” Larry keeps the customers checked and the merchandise flowing. and strategically planning the sales in order to attract more customers. It really pays off. The estate sale donation was the spring board for the sale that was held last Monday. The parking lot was overflowing before the doors were open. This one-day event netted the largest single day of sales for the past year, even greater than the traditional best sale day of the year, the Christmas sale in early December.

“I congratulate the staff for their hard work and enthusiasm,” said Programs Director Ed Savage.

If you haven’t been by the SHSM Thrift Store, take a moment and check it out. The extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday make the trip easy to schedule. The merchandise changes daily, but one can be certain there is always a treasure to be had and that your purchases will help those who are less fortunate!

Give A Gift Of Support

*Don’t forget, the Thrift Store always welcomes donations! Fall and Winter items and anything for back to school are being stocked now. Makeup and polish, toys, tools and men’s clothing are the first to go…so remember, if you don’t want it, THEY DO!