I love the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – including their Thrift Stores – for so many reasons. When my mother passed away at age 98 in 2020, it was my husband’s and my responsibility to lovingly and thoroughly empty her house. Marjorie Carrie had lived there her entire life – in fact she was born in the living room at 138 West Dundas St. in Belleville, Ontario.
What to do? Covid was raging, so many places that would take my mother’s things were closed down. I could not in all conscience consign her material goods to the dump. I reached out to St. Vincent de Paul in Belleville – and Bless them – they offered to send us two men and a truck for an entire day! (SSVP in Belleville has a large location.) It took all four of us the full day to do this but we did it! And with good humour!
I live in St. Catharines, and I knew about Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift on Queenston and visited it from time to time to buy up homey lap blankets, teddy bears, and children’s book for “Bears and Blankets” and “Free Books for Kids.” One day a volunteer asked me if I would like to volunteer there. I said “Yes!”
Well, an interview and a police check later, I was a regular Monday afternoon volunteer, and I have loved every minute of it since I started. (It helps that my shift is only 3 hours long. 😊) I love the people working / volunteering there, I love the excellent prices, I love the simplicity of their systems, and I love how they care for the folks that Jesus loves with His whole heart.
I like to thank them at the end of each shift! Here is what I wrote yesterday:
Greetings! Another awesome day at SSVP yesterday! What are just a few of the things I loved today – in addition to fellow volunteers and Mary…
- Providing free bread – a surplus from Costco – but charging for the desserts, of course.
- Providing free clothes for the homeless. It matters so much.
- The patience with customers who are no longer “with it.” These drugs fry people’s brains
- THE PRICES! In my perfect world Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift on Queenston would be seen to be the centre of “Poverty Chic.” As well as helping folks who are poor – attract folks who like to find cool stuff!
So much love and appreciation!
Jan
