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November 14, 2023By Maury Bois, President, St. Vincent de Paul of Southern Arizona
The Tucson Diocesan Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society operates two thrift stores in the city of Tucson. Several of the Society’s conferences also operate thrift stores across Southern Arizona. These stores accomplish many missions. The stores receive donated goods – often slightly used – and recycle or repurpose them. Some items are offered for sale at the store at extremely reasonable prices. You can find furniture, household goods, clothing, electronics, books, and a variety of other offerings in our thrift stores. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these items are used to operate the stores which provide employment for a significant number of people throughout the Diocese of Tucson.
Other items from the stores are available to our conferences throughout the southern part of the state to provide to those we serve. During our home visits, we frequently encounter individuals and families in need of furniture, appliances, household goods, or clothing. These items can be obtained from our stores through a voucher program that enables the conference to request the needed items and then present them to our friends. Large items can be delivered by our trucks.
The Tucson Sixth Avenue thrift shop also has a “free store” which provides clothing to the homeless and to others who need clothing but are unable to pay. During the last fiscal year, the “free store” served 12,024 individuals and provided free clothing valued at $201,193.
Finally, profits from the sale of thrift store items are used to assist those in need by helping with rent and mortgage payments to prevent eviction, overdue utility bills, food, medicine, and many other forms of assistance which enable the people we serve to overcome adversity and maintain their dignity. One of the tenets of St. Vincent de Paul is that “No act of charity is foreign to our Society.”
Our thrift stores, as you can see, are a vital part of our operation and contribute immensely to the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and to the welfare of others in several ways. Please visit a St. Vincent Thrift Store in your area; I am sure you will find some great bargains and will be helping us serve others at the same time.
For a list of the St. Vincent Thrift Stores in the Diocese of Tucson, please visit our website at: svdptucson.org
