Blessed Sacrament Parish Thrift Store: Bringing God’s Mercy To Others Through Faithful Service

Any parishioner looking for a way to live more deeply in stewardship — by offering one’s time and talent as a disciple of Christ — has a perfect opportunity to do so by volunteering at the Blessed Sacrament Parish Thrift Store.

While the store is a ministry of Blessed Sacrament Parish, St. Leo’s also promotes the store and provides volunteers. Volunteers are always needed to help sort and arrange items, as well as serve the customers. One does not need to be a member of any particular group or club to volunteer.

The Thrift Store is located on the southeast corner of 4th St. and Eddy St.

“Volunteering at the Thrift Store is a personal commitment,” says Donna Douglass, Parish Outreach Coordinator. “Each person contacts the store and they make a schedule that will work for them.”

In her work in parish outreach, Donna has often found that parishioners want to become more involved in the parish, but need some direction.

“I think a lot of times, people want to help, but they do not know where to start,” she says. “Then maybe they see a need in the bulletin for volunteers at the Thrift Store and it begins. Once, you start helping and giving of yourself, you know you are doing the right thing.”

This sense of knowing one is doing the right thing by giving of oneself is at the core of our faith. This is essentially what it means to be Christian. Donna has many opportunities to witness this firsthand in the areas of outreach that St. Leo’s offers — but particularly through the Thrift Store.

“We are bringing Christ and God’s mercy to others when we serve others,” she says. “It is exactly what God wants us to do. It is our job as Christians to make sure all people have their basic needs met. When you help others with a smile on your face, you are bringing Christ to them. You have no idea how your interactions may have changed their day or week. When you know you are treating people like Christ wants you to, that action itself inspires you and maybe others to do more.”

Thrift Store volunteers find that amid the physical work they do of moving and sorting items, as well as arranging merchandise, they also perform perhaps the greatest work in how they kindly and cheerfully greet those entering the store, many of whom are the area’s needy.

“To be treated with dignity even if you have very little is so powerful,” Donna says. “Each person is God’s creation and when we treat others with our time and our love, we are changing lives.”

With flexible hours available, volunteering at the Blessed Sacrament Parish Thrift Store is simple and convenient.

If you would like to volunteer at the Thrift Store, please call 308-384-0532 and note in your message that you would like to help out at store.

To help at the Food Pantry, please contact Marie Schuster at 308-379-9238. To help with CarePortal or the Saturday night meal, please refer to the bulletin for updates.