SALVATION ARMY IS OVERWHELMED WITH GENEROSITY

Capt. Robert Gauthier hasn't seen anything like it.

The Salvation Army officer handled thrift stores in Minnesota and North Dakota before coming to Cape Girardeau, but none of them attracted as many clothing donations as the one at the corner of Morgan Oak and Sprigg Street.

This Salvation Army Thrift Store is literally packed with clothing. In the basement, boxes and plastic sacks full of clothes cover nearly every square foot of space, floor to ceiling. Workers squeeze in between the piles, sorting as they go.

There are more piles waiting for them on the loading dock, and a tractor-trailer rig out back is packed full.

Gauthier is asking the public to switch gears from donating clothing to donating time or dollars. In two weeks, the thrift store should be ready to accept clothes again.

"In the summer months, people really start to have garage sales, clean out their closets and clean out their children's closets," Gauthier said. "We're not complaining, but if we had a larger facility it would be easier to store up for the off-season."

The slow time for the store is February through April, and the Salvation Army usually advertises then for more clothing donations.

For now, there are several volunteers and six paid employees working to sort and sell pants, skirts, shirts, sweaters, dresses and jackets in all sizes and styles. Gauthier said he could use more volunteers during the clothing crisis. He also would like someone to donate an empty warehouse or storage space for use during the summer months.

Another suggestion was for people to sell their old clothes at garage sales and donate the proceeds to the Salvation Army.

Gauthier said he hopes donations began again after the current deluge is over. Sales at the thrift store funnel about $3,500 monthly into the Salvation Army coffers. That money goes for utility grants, food assistance, a community center, summer camp, shelter and other charitable services.

While the thrift store helps low-income people find nice, affordable clothing, the poor aren't the only ones who shop there. Manager Debbie Harris said she has seen all kinds of shoppers in her three years working at the store.

"Secretaries come in looking for office clothes; other people come in looking for formals to wear at weddings," Harris said. "You could spend only $50 and have enough good clothes to wear for a whole week at the office."

Those outfits wouldn't be cheaply made, either, Harris said. She sees Saks Fifth Avenue, Armani and Liz Claiborne tags on a regular basis. For the younger set, there are Guess, Levi and Arizona jeans.

Some shoppers come in wanting costumes for plays, Halloween or theme parties, and they usually aren't disappointed, Harris said.

"We put out a lot of vintage clothing," she said. "The college girls like that."

Sharon Sticht of Cape Girardeau was shopping in the store on Wednesday. She said she comes in about once a month to look for new merchandise.

"I was pretty tickled at finding that biscuit pan this afternoon," she said, motioning to a paper bag full of purchases.

Capt. Gauthier said incentives are being offered for more people to come in and buy clothing. On Senior Citizens Day, those who qualify will receive 10 percent off. Southeast Missouri State University students will receive 10 percent off any day with a photo I.D. from the school.

The Salvation Army also is looking to move some of the clothes to a new location. Gauthier said his organization may open another store in a different part of Cape Girardeau or in Jackson.