SPRING 2020
The Begging Bowl Newsletter
The Franciscan Peddler: a Store with Soul
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ertainly, the Franciscan Peddler Thrift Shop is fully stocked, with plenty of clothing, shoes, jewelry, household items, books and more. However, the Peddler is much more: since 2016, the store has generated more than $100,000 to support Franciscan Ministries’ programs. A core group of volunteers, some who are Associates of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, come in weekly to receive donations of a wide variety of items, which are sorted, cleaned and lightly repaired. The store bustles during weekends (Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m - 4 p.m.), with an average of 150-200 customers accounting for more than 7,500 visits per year. Peddler Director Sister June Casterton, SFP, notes, “Many of our customers are regulars, coming every week. They know they will find quality items and a welcoming atmosphere. We see this as an opportunity to live out the Gospel call to serve, both through direct interaction at the store offering affordable thrift clothing and through our support of Franciscan Ministries.
Haircuts from the Heart
Tamar's Center
Customers like the boutique feel of the store, the regular rotation of clothes, the display themes and the numerous incentives offered, such as occasional store-wide half off sales. “The Peddler really is impressive, both in terms of how nice a thrift shop it is and the generous support shown to our programs,” states Elaine Ward, executive director for Franciscan Ministries. She adds, “The Peddler embodies the definition of thrift, using these resources in such efficient and useful ways. We often head first to the Peddler to obtain household items for our clients who have recently found housing. And the volunteers are always on the look-out for items we could use at Tamar’s Center, such as gloves or winter coats for women who are homeless, suffer from addiction or who are being exploited through sex trafficking.”
Centennial Barn
Tau House
Community Garden
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