By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor
Top photo: Father Edward Blanchett, center, pastor of Visitation Parish, Brick, joins St. Vincent de Paul volunteers and supporters for a September grand opening photo in front of the conference’s new thrift store. Courtesy photo
Visitation Parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference is now serving those in need with clothing and household items in its new thrift store location, just a mile from the church building in Brick.
“I’ve found that being able to provide for those in need in our very own communities – truly seeing the face of Christ in the poor – brings our faith home to each of us in a concrete and profound way,” said Father Edward Blanchett, Visitation pastor.
A longtime supporter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Father Blanchett recently offered the dedication and blessing for the new location at 567 Mantoloking Road in Lenape Plaza. He noted that he’s had “the honor and joy of initiating and supporting Conferences in all of my assignments as pastor.”
The original SVDP thrift store began operating 35 years ago in the old church basement, according to Dee DeTuro, Visitation’s parish catechetical leader. It was essential, DeTuro said, that the new operations be close to the parish and affordable, which the board finally found on the same street.
“Our volunteers worked diligently to make our thrift store the outstanding showroom that it has become,” she said.
The thrift store will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The showroom will carry everything except furniture. Twelve volunteers rotate through shifts with two on site during business hours, with one manager or assistant manager present at all times. Everyone who works in the store is an unpaid volunteer.
Neighbors in need come from all over the surrounding areas, DeTuro said. “The challenges that they are facing, just to mention a few, include losing their homes, in need of rental assistance, eviction notices, shortage of food, clothing, and utilities as well as medical assistance.”
“The shop has a varied assortment of clothing, shoes and household items that are not only affordable but also very in with the ‘thrifters’ who are always looking for special items,” DeTuro added.
All proceeds of the thrift store will go back into the community, which includes assistance with rent, school lunches, utilities, care for the homeless, medical, pumpkins and Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts for children, school supplies, grocery vouchers, gift cards and more.
“We open our hearts to listen and offer spiritual guidance and resources,” DeTuro said of the volunteers’ interaction with customers. While the thrift shop does not directly hand out assistance, staff will give out the SVDP conference phone number so that referral intakes can be done by phone.
The store’s success also relies on the help of young Catholics at Visitation Parish.
“Every Tuesday our young volunteers and others come and make 500-600 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for those in need, and they are delivered on Wednesday by volunteers,” DeTuro said.
She hopes that the thrift store will continue the SVDP mission while engaging the youth. “They are the future of St. Vincent de Paul as they volunteer in our thrift store and in our Visitation Jr. Society of St. Vincent de Paul.”