Volunteers essential at thrift stores

Some may call them God's army.

Each week, 10 to 20 people, along with members of service clubs, churches and probation and parole boards show up at area Salvation Army thrift stores with one goal — performing a labor of love for those who shop at the businesses.

Situated at 1969 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson and 416 Morgan Oak St. in Cape Girardeau, products sold at the ministry's store include clothing, furniture and electronics.

Volunteers as young as 5 perform a variety of duties, including sorting through merchandise before it is sold to the public and assisting customers with any questions. The only task volunteers don't help with is running the cash register, which is done by four paid staff members at the Jackson location and three at the Cape Girardeau store.

Some volunteers, such as Becky McCulley of Jackson, spend a few hours each week at the thrift store.

Most Saturdays, McCulley pitches in wherever needed. She said the time spent volunteering is hardly a sacrifice compared to the satisfaction of benefiting a customer.

"This gives me a sense of accomplishment and makes me feel great knowing I've helped others," McCulley said. "It feels good to know that the clothes I have sorted through may have benefited someone else who needed that item."

While McCulley works a limited schedule, others, like Robbie Fluegge of Jackson, volunteer at the business whenever the door is open.

Since Fluegge started working at the store in mid-August, she has arrived there about 30 minutes before the business opens at 9 a.m. Most days she won't leave until roughly an hour before closing time.

Fluegge credits the people who are employed, volunteer and shop at the store for her continued presence there.

"There's no better feeling than helping someone else out," said Fluegge, whose son Marty is an employee at the Jackson store and daughter-in-law Jackie is a secretary at its headquarters, 701 Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau. "My time here has been even better than I expected."

Maj. Beth Stillwell, who oversees operations at both stores, said that whether someone spends five hours or five days at the thrift store, each volunteer's time is equally valued.

"The Salvation Army couldn't operate without our volunteers," Stillwell said. "They are that important."

The proceeds from items sold in the store go toward the ministry of the Salvation Army, an international Christian organization that provides programs to the needy, including basic social services, holiday assistance, children's day camps and disaster relief.

The Jackson and Cape Girardeau stores are two of 1,371 stores in the country. The Jackson store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, while the Cape Girardeau location is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Stillwell said the stores began as a way to rehabilitate men and women. Once they learned skills in the store, they were then equipped to enter society and find a job.

While its workers now include volunteers from community organizations, the store still contributes to rebuilding lives through meal programs, emergency relief, counseling services, Christmas assistance, summer camps, offering school supplies and worship services. More than 85 percent of every dollar from every item sold at the thrift stores goes toward those programs. In addition to revenue from thrift store sales, the organization's other two main sources of income are from the United Way and its annual Christmas kettle drive.

"The Salvation Army helps meet emergency crisis needs and the thrift store is just one way we do that," Stillwell said. "The more volunteers we get, the more we can help those community members in need."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

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