St. Paul Catholic Center thrift shop thriving in Hurricane

Friday, Sep. 12, 2014

HURRICANE — The Saint Paul Catholic Center thrift shop has come full circle; it is helping the Catholic Center by paying rent and at the same time through donations the center helps the community by meeting the needs of low-income groups of people. 

Almost a year ago, when the previous manager stepped down, Judith Green agreed to run the St. Paul Treasures Thrift Shop for a month until someone could be found to take it over. “I’m still there; it’s funny now, but I had never run a thrift shop before in my life,” said Green, adding that they now have some new volunteers who are pricing and sorting. 

Eileen O’Connor has volunteered as a clerk, and also has worked sorting clothes and other items, she said. “That’s a lot of work; we get so many donations that you think you are finished and by the end of the day another donation comes in and you have to start all over. But it is nice when you go into the store and see how happy everybody is when they shop.” 

Green likes working within the community, she said. “We’ve worked with Shop With a Cop, and the Christmas program and we re-sell a lot to the community. I’ve also opened the doors for special shopping days for the nursing home; they come on the bus that accommodates their wheelchairs and walkers and I help push them in their wheelchairs and let them shop.” 

Through the thrift shop, Green is also working with the Dove Center for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Saint George. “If someone makes a donation in the Dove Center’s name, I will in turn give them a $10 or $20 voucher for the Dove Center to be given to someone who is transitioning out into the community and is in need of clothing and kitchen items or other things,” she said.

Through the thrift shop, Green and O’Connor made a hot Thanksgiving meal for the women and children at the Dove Center and delivered it to them. They also decorated a Christmas tree to auction off so they could donate the money for the children to Shop With a Cop for Christmas gifts. 

Green is also doing some outreach within the Hurricane community to work with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints women. “We are wise, strong women and we respect each other’s differences, and we are finding common goals within the community to work together such as elderly issues and food for the hungry,” said Green.

Green is also working with the Hurricane School District to raise donations for low-income school students. “We delivered the school supplies and then the school district contacted me to see what we could do to help with clothing,” Green said. “I gave each of the elementary school counselors $5 and $10 gift vouchers so that when they see a family or student in need, they can come shopping. We will also accommodate high school students if that becomes necessary.” 

Moms Helping Moms is another group with which Green is working, she said. “That is a group who might hear of a mom who is in need of a stroller or high chair and if we have one, we will do our best to accommodate them. Or if there is a single parent, we will help them out with baby clothes.” 

Another project that the thrift shop is involved in is the Hunger Action Plan; donations will be given to a Saint George food pantry, said Green. “We are small but we are mighty.”