Browsing the Racks and Shelves at St. Joseph's Thrift Shop

Many people are always looking for a worthy cause to donate to, and this time of year that is especially true. If you want to help make a difference for someone in your community, pay a visit to St. Joseph's Thrift Shop. Whether you go to drop off your gently used items or to shop, your support directly affects people in the community who are struggling or in need.

"The most unique thing about our thrift shop is that really, truly all the money goes to the outreach office. We have the food pantry and we give families in need emergency help for utilities or other necessary services. We help all people who live in the Babylon community, not just people in the parish, which is something a lot of people don't know," said Kathy Raniere, who became the parish's new Outreach Director last July.

Before I tell you about the regular items they always have, let me tell how much Christmas stuff they have:  plenty and all of it is 50% off for the whole month.

The items were inexpensive to begin with, but with the sale they are at rock bottom prices. If you are hosting the big day and feel your house could use some help in the decorations department, one stop in the thrift shop will change all that and your wallet will barely feel it. Some of the items were so cute I had a hard time not buying everything myself.

For the non- holiday items, there is not really too much you cannot find here. Like most thrift stores they cannot accommodate large furniture nor can they take baby bath tubs or car seats. The shop, which opened in 1993, consists of two generous rooms which are chock full of everything, even a fitting room.

You can find baby and children's items including clothes, games, books and VHS movies; clothing for teens and adults (men and women); accessories like belts, pocketbooks, briefcases and suitcases; housewares for everyday use to fancier items like tea servers and serving pieces plus fabrics, games, books, greeting cards and more.

The thrift store is popular. On the morning I visited, they had 42 shoppers in less than two hours. Raniere attributed that traffic to three things: the time of year and the two sales going on that day. In addition to the half-off sale on Christmas items, there was also a bag sale going on, where a whole bag of items sells for one set price.

"We try to have one big sale a month, like a half price sale or a bag sale. Clothes are our biggest seller, especially women's clothing. We ask that all donated clothes be gently used. I go by this rule when I think of donating something: If I wouldn't want someone in my family to wear it, then I don't donate it," she said.

Fourteen year thrift shop volunteer Suzanne Strohschein said even if items like that are donated, they do not make it to the sales floor. "People should know we only put the stuff out that is perfect and it is all reasonably priced," she said.

The 36- year Babylon Village resident works in the shop all three days it is open.  She and the other volunteers work hard to keep things running smoothly and efficiently.

 "It's the best thing I ever did. I was bored at home so I thought I would do something to be helpful to someone. I meet so many nice people. All the girls are nice, too. There are about 25 of us who work here," she said.

Many of the volunteers work behind the scenes, sorting through the bags of donations that come in. "New stuff is put out all the time and whatever we don't sell gets donated back to St. Vincent de Paul," Raniere said.

The Outreach Office oversees the thrift shop and the food pantry.

"We take non perishable food donations and cash donations and use the money from the thrift shop to buy gas cards and food cards for the necessities that food stamps won't cover. Many people live paycheck to paycheck.  Maybe because of the economy they lost some of the income so they ask for help now when they never did before. The money from the thrift store is what keeps us alive," Raniere said.

St. Joseph's Thrift Shop is located at 34 Grove Place, in the convent building behind the church. It is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and that's also the time to drop off donations. For more information please call 669-5574.