The Quarterly
Newsletter of
St. Matthias'
Thrift Shop
715-358-2182
439 E. Front St.
Minocqua, Wisconsin
|
Our Mission
Promote goodwill in the community
Provide quality merchandise
Assure affordable prices
Support community outreach activities
|
Thrift Shop Hours:
11 - 3, Tuesday - Saturday
After Memorial Day: 10 - 3Evening hours: 5 - 8 WednesdaysFurniture Annex:
Open Saturdays 11 - 3
Located on Milwaukee St.
Across from Fire Station
|
Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in volunteering at the Thrift Shop?
Contact Jan Degner at:
715-356-3447
jdegner42@charter.net
or ask at the front desk.
|
Mark your calendar
Sept. 2-17:
Closed for cleaning and restocking
Sept. 18:
Reopening with Fall/Winter merchandise (open at 11 am)
Sept. 28-29:48th Minocqua Beef-a-Rama (click here for details)
|
Customer bulletin board
We have a customer bulletin board and invite you to advertise things you want to sell, want to buy, or need.
|
Emergency Situations
Our merchandise is free to those in need, whether from fire losses or other disasters. If you are in the shop, let our cashier know and we'll do our best to accommodate your needs. You can also call Jan Degner at 356-3447.
|
We accept items in good condition
Please do not give us anything you would not give to a friend. We may refuse items that are not saleable. Call 358-2182 for questions.
|
All are welcome
All are welcome at St. Matthias' Episcopal Church. Services are Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
An additional service is at 8:00 a.m. (from June through August).
Evensong services are third Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and are followed by a potluck supper.
Contact the church at:
715-356-6758
Send an e-mail to:
secretary@stmatthiasminocqua.org
Or visit our website at:
|
|
|
From the Editor
Fall is around the corner and our Spring/Summer merchandise has gone on sale. Many customers come in on sale week prepared to pay full price, only to discover that they can get everything at half price, "fill a bag" for a buck or take things home free on the last day. By closing time on Saturday, there is very little left. Everything coming into the shop in reasonable condition is recycled. Our storage area is compact - and full - and every week we still take @150 large bags of clothing and shoes to Goodwill Woodruff Senior Center), where it is recycled once again. What is useless to one person might be valuable to another! We only ask that our donors bring in clean clothing and household goods and furniture that are in good condition.
|
|
|
|  |
|
We Support Local Charities
St. Matthias' Episcopal Church donates proceeds from the Thrift Shop to area charities quarterly. The Thrift Shop governing committee recommends charities based on proposals submitted by the volunteers. Total 2011 donations were $41,448. First and second quarter donations in 2012 were as follows: $5,500 Donation:
Lakeland Food Pantry
$2,000 Donation:
NATH
$1,000 Donations:
Abinoojiiyag
Alzheimer's Association
Angel on My Shoulder
Camp American Legion
Compassionate Friends
Literacy Task Force
Nicolet College
MTH Foundation
Relay for Life
Special Olympics
Wild Instincts Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
A $1000 scholarship will be given to a deserving senior from Lakeland Union High School.
The Thrift Shop also makes donations of household goods, books, furniture, and clothing to needy families and nonprofits. This past year, $1,179 worth of merchandise was donated to individuals and nonprofit organizations. 10% of the net income of the Thrift Shop supports a variety of community outreach activities of St. Matthias' Episcopal Church; the remaining dollars are used for upkeep, renovations, and community outreach.
Proposals for third quarter donations are due September 1, 2012.
|
|
| |
|
| Volunteer/Customer Survey Outcomes
In our last newsletter we reported that we would conduct a survey of our customers and volunteers about where to donate thrift shop monies. We received results from 199 customers. Topping the survey by category was:
Animal Welfare (45)
Education and Health (42)
Scholarships (30)
Arts (21)
Numerous charities were suggested in each category. These will be addressed at each meeting when Quarterly donations are selected.
|
|
| |
|
| In Other News...
We want to thank Adam of VISTA Window Cleaning Co. for providing a monthly cleaning of Thrift Shop and Furniture Annex windows as a charitable contribution.
Thrift Shop volunteers were hosted to an appreciation/mortgage-burning luncheon on Monday, June 18. Now that the building is paid off, additional monies will be available for outreach.
Techs With A Heart accepts used computers. The Thrift Shop does not accept used computers and parts. However, you can call Todd from Techs With A Heart, 715-446-4333. He fixes them and donates them to low income families and people in need.
|
|
| |
|
Volunteer of the Year Awards
Every year the Thrift Shop committee selects a "Volunteer of the Year," and their names are featured on a plaque on the wall behind the cashier's desk. Award winners since 2006 are: Albert Ames (2006), Carol and Dan Goodman (2007), Bev Koller and Barb Hopkins (2008), Nancy Coleman and Gunda Traube (2009), Barb Reinecke and Cindy Davis (2010), and Rita and Jerry Green (2011). Awards are presented at our Fall Volunteer Appreciation dinner. |
|
| |
|
Tales From the Shop
The Chippewa Retreat Resort in Manitowish Waters called the shop to ask if we would take all their sheets as they were replacing them. The next day dozens and dozens of really nice sheets were donated to the Thrift Shop, filling about 18 of our gray storage bins. Linens sorter Nancy reported: "It was a daunting task to get them all sorted into sizes and pairs, folded, and priced, but when it was done, our customers benefited with a good selection of sheets, just when they needed them!"
Thrift shop customers do some surprising things with their purchases. A few examples:
- Shopper bought bathing suits and a bassinet cover to make doll clothing for her granddaughters; she also found material with "watermelons," which one granddaughter specifically requested.
- Customer bought our ties to make skirts by sewing together the ties, points down, and using another tie for the waistband.
- Volunteer bought super-sized colored tee shirts to cut into strips for making colorful rugs.
- Customer bought old lamps to use parts for making new lamps with natural woods.
|
|
| |
|
Introducing Volunteer Trish Slana
Trish, next-door neighbor of Thrift Shop Coordinator Jan Degner, says she began volunteering at the shop in order to "get to know her neighbor and see her once in a while." Trish is the shop's shoe and purse "pricer." To get an estimate of appropriate prices, Trish often visits shoe/department stores. Though she travels from November through May, Trish prices these items far ahead and boxes enough inventory to carry us through the winter months. Asked why she works at the shop, Trish says she enjoys interacting with the volunteers," and her days there "pass by quickly." Trish comes in practically every day when in town. In her spare time she reads "most anything" and travels. Trish has been on six continents; Mexico is her favorite country.
|
|
|
