BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Three fires were discovered in the dumpster area behind the St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) Council Thrift Store at 5748 Buford Highway in the Doraville Shopping Plaza at 3 p.m., Saturday, May 17 by Peggy Stephenson, a store clerk.

Stephenson first saw the flames when they began penetrating the ceiling of the store's thin, rear wall.

Arson is suspected in the fire which burnt a hole in the roof, allowing smoke to seep into the building interior and damage all inventory including clothing, furniture, linens and other household items.

Power in the building will be turned off until the roof is repaired and Nancy Sestak, SVDP development director, anticipates the store will remain closed until the beginning of June.

"It's an unforeseen crisis that's happening to a group that helps people with unforeseen crises," Sestak said. SVDP will lose $800 to $1000 daily in costs and lost sales, she said.

In order to weather this crisis, Sheila Bissonnette, executive director of the society, has appealed for emergency cash donations for the next 2 to 3 weeks. This will help SVDP survive the crisis.

In the near future, the society will also need help re-supplying inventory to this location, which is the largest of their six thrift stores. This will be announced when a storage area is available. Sestak said that SVDP may hold a sidewalk sale for smoke damaged goods which would otherwise be discarded.

SVDP raises money and accepts donations solely to provide temporary, emergency financial assistance to individuals and families in need. In addition to sales, the thrift store gives away over $100,000 annually in clothing and household items to people in need throughout the Atlanta metro area referred to them by shelters and charitable agencies. The store gave away over $70,000 in merchandise over the last six months, Bissonnette said.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. For information, contact Nancy Sestak at (404) 874-0213. Donations may be sent to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 26 Third St., Atlanta, Ga. 30308.