The following article was submitted by Shirley Smalley, chair of the St. Vincent de Paul Support Our Stores Committee in Phoenix:

Did you know that bundling is not a new concept and it is not an idea developed by our local cable company?  St. Vincent de Paul has been bundling for several years and we would like to invite you and your conference to join us in our bundling efforts.

The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores are an important and integral part of the Society and its works.  Our greater Phoenix area thrift stores provide goods to our conferences so they can serve those in need, they provide affordable new and used items to the poor and working poor and they are a source of revenue for our Diocesan Council, but they need our on-going help and support.

There are a variety of ways by which St. Vincent de Paul district councils and conferences, groups and other organizations, and individuals alike can support our stores.  You can recruit store volunteers. You can advertise in your local newsletters to encourage family and friends to shop at our area stores. And finally, you can help solicit donations for our stores.

By increasing the number of donations of useable items we receive, you can help expand what our stores can do.  If our stores are full of high quality items, we will attract more shoppers, increase our sales, and be able to offer more choices to the families that our conferences serve.

How can you help?  You can schedule a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Bundle Drive in your local area.  Everything you need to conduct a successful drive is at your disposal.  We provide the truck, the promotional flyers, detailed instructions and support materials.  Members of our Support Our Stores Committee are also available to give a power point presentation about thrift store bundle drives.

Hosting a bundle drive provides an easy and affordable way to support the works of the Society, gives people an opportunity to clean out those items they no longer want or need and offers much needed inventory to our stores.

For more information, please email Shirley Smalley at msmal14727@aol.com.