BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

MARIETTA--On June 16 Archbishop John F. Donoghue blessed the eighth St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store which opened in mid-May to serve a community with a large Hispanic population.

The store at 1171 Powder Springs Road is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It is staffed by approximately 75 volunteers from the organization’s conferences at St. Joseph’s Church, Marietta, the Church of St. Ann, Marietta, and St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Smyrna. Proceeds are divided among the three parishes.

The store sells at low cost, or gives away with vouchers from approved organizations, donated items in good condition, including children’s and adult clothing, furniture, books, linens, toys, cosmetics and jewelry.

General manager Sandy Senkus from the Smyrna parish said the thrift store needs donations of denim and children’s clothing, dishes, pots and pans. Volunteers are also needed.

“We’re always looking for more volunteers. We are seeking people to work and help price and get things out on the floor. We need manpower,” she said.

In the ceremony Archbishop Donoghue described the dignity of labor to the small gathering of store workers and supporters.

“In his own life Christ Jesus clearly showed us the dignity of labor. When he became incarnate, the Word of the Father was known as the carpenter’s son and willingly worked with the tools of this trade. By working with his own hands he transformed toil from being an inherited curse for sin into a source of blessings,” he said. “If we do our work well, whatever it may be, and offer it to God, we purify ourselves and through the labor of our hands and minds we build up God’s creation. Our work enables us to practice charity and to help the less fortunate.”

“Bless all those who will use this building either as buyers or as sellers, so that by respecting justice and charity they will see themselves as working for the common good and find joy in contributing to the progress of the earthly city,” he said.

The archbishop then sprinkled holy water among the many racks and display tables laden with belts, blue jeans, children’s socks, baby blankets, straw bags, maternity wear and other items.

Senkus said that a popular nearby thrift store recently closed creating a need for a new store in the area. She estimated that half of the initial shoppers have been Hispanic.

“We’re right in the middle of a huge Hispanic community. We’re going to be getting our signs in both English and Spanish,” she said. The store is also printing brochures in Spanish and advertising in Mundo Hispanico.

Planning the opening for over a year, Jim Heslin, president of the St. Ann’s conference, said the parishes decided “it was easier for the three parishes to collaborate not only from the standpoint of money, but also from the standpoint of volunteers.”

St. Ann’s has 15 volunteers at the thrift store and recently held a drive to recruit more.

“The sales have been rising at all of our stores,” said Sheila Bissonnette, SVDP executive director. “More people are choosing to shop in thrift stores. I think it’s a trend, as people enjoy shopping if they can get good bargains.”

The store has drawn a variety of people including mothers shopping for children, young men buying business suits as well as the elderly.

Teresa Samaniego of Mexico quietly entered the store following the ceremony to shop for a shirt for her daughter Angel. She said in Spanish that she likes the store because “there are good prices and each day they have new things...because all (other thrift stores) are very far away and one has to pay for a taxi...The staff workers that work here are very friendly. I come here almost every day.”

Donations may be delivered to the thrift store during regular hours. For information call the store at (770) 792-8026.