Starting Wednesday, February 1st, St. Vincent de Paul’s Apache Junction Thrift Store will be packed full with thousands of Southwestern items we’ve been collecting all year. The sale runs the entire month of February, but don’t wait, because these unique thrift store treasures will not last all month long!

Do you just love one-of-a-kind jewelry with Southwestern flair? Are you a collector of Southwestern art? Have you been searching for the perfect rug or knick-knack for that one spot in your home?

You will find the best selection of Southwest jewelry, boots, art, clothing and home decor all at great prices! 


The Annual Southwest Thrift Store Sale starts Feb. 1 and runs all month long.

St. Vincent de Paul Apache Junction Thrift Store

2540 W. Apache Trail

Apache Junction, AZ 85120

480.380.4515

Mon-Sat: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m

Vincentian Fresh Perspectives

A lot has been happening at St. Vincent de Paul, even in our supposedly “slow” season.

New programs, noteworthy visitors, great new relationships, and new ways of engaging with our supporters. We’ve been posting lovely photo albums, producing moving videos, and writing informative blog posts. But you may have missed something in an area that interests you, so I’ve compiled a little digest, by subject area, of things you can learn more about via our blog, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

Let me know if I’ve missed anything – we can always add more. If you’d like to save this digest to…um…digest later, or to forward it to friends (hint, hint) its permanent URL is http://www.helpingthepoor.org/digests/digest05-11-fb-yt-bl. By the way, all of the events and activities below have happened in the last 30 days.

Feeding the Hungry

Blog post about a volunteer who is giving our homeless dining room guests (all 800 of them) a name tag on the day he volunteers.

Flowers that Feed Why give cut flowers when your loved one can have Flowers that Feed?

Easter Party in the Family Dining Room thanks to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sodexo.

Health Care

Banner Health teaches kids about healthy eating

Homelessness

What are your thoughts about homeless individuals owning pets?

Homeless guest at main St. Vincent de Paul dining room sings the national anthem at an Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Open House at Ozanam Manor transitional shelter.

Volunteerism

SVdP Volunteer Profile series. Videos produced and narrated by Mary Jo West. Featured below are on Facebook page, others will be moving over soon, so that we can all write and read comments about these wonderful volunteers. For a sneak peak at others, see our YouTube channel.

• Andy Andreano
• Anita Tabcharani
• Ellen Lagerman

A Personnel Perspective, a series of short videos of staff members and volunteers telling little stories about their work at St. Vincent:

• Ed Dubiel
• Patricia Metrick
• Cassidy Zoellner

Blog post about a volunteer who is giving our homeless dining room guests (all 800 of them) a name tag on the day he volunteers.

Angels who make Curtains for Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeovers.

Corporate volunteers love making SVdP Tees, which raise money to fund our homeless programs.

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

SVdP volunteer Dick Warren wins Governor’s volunteerism award.

Home Makeovers

A Collection of Vincentian Fresh Perspectives Home Makeovers

Cesar’s New Bed Six year old gets his own bunk to recover from kidney surgery.

The Lemon Tree Mayo Clinic paints the house a disabled vet and his wife have lived in for over 50 years.

The Ice Cream Truck and the Girls Four girls who share a small room get their own beds.

Angels who make Curtains for Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeovers.

Thank You Nana A grandmother caring for her four granddaughters gets her house painted by a team of volunteers.

Events & Visitors

SVdP International President visits Phoenix for Western Regional Meeting

• Story
• Photos

Golf for Charity event, organized by the Our Lady of Joy Knights of Columbus, raises money for St. Vincent de Paul and has become one of the top charity events in the area.

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

Land of Ahhs honors new SVdP program, Vincentian Fresh Perspectives.

A Shred-A-Thon for Earth Day.

SVdP volunteer Dick Warren wins Governor’s volunteerism award.

Open House at Ozanam Manor transitional shelter.

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Video honoring a group of fabulous volunteers is in two parts:

• Part One
• Part Two

Thrift Stores

Video describes new Volunteer-run thrift store in Cottonwood, AZ.

A Shred-A-Thon for Earth Day.

Ozzie’s Furnishings grand re-opening.

Thought Provoking

Should a food box be handed to anyone who asks for it?

What are your thoughts on restricting restroom access to “customers only,” in public establishments?

What are your thoughts about homeless individuals owning pets?

Who from your childhood has had the greatest positive effect on the kind of person you are today?

Activities for Needy Families

Family Evening Meal calendar – May

Banner Health teaches kids about healthy eating

Easter Party in the Family Dining Room thanks to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sodexo.

Engaging our Supporters

SVdP “Friend-Raising” Campaign to meet new Facebook Fans

Liliana’s Birthday Wish

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

Flowers that Feed Why give cut flowers when your loved one can have Flowers that Feed?

Hungry for more? There’s lots more great news, photos, and videos on St. Vincent de Paul’s website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog, and YouTube channel.

In honor of Earth Day, you can bring your old files and documents to shred!
 
We’re also taking computers, monitors and electronics to recycle.      
 
Thursday, April 21 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  
 
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
8231 N. 7th St. Phoenix, AZ 85020

St. Vincent de Paul’s unique thrift store Ozzie’s Furnishings has moved to a new location! And just in time to celebrate its four-year anniversary and you are invited!Been wondering what Ozzie’s has to offer? Come in and check it out! Ozzie’s Furnishings has great prices on one-of-a-kind furnishings and elegant home décor. Styles range from antiques to contemporary. Each piece has been donated by people who want their lovely furnishings to be adored in a new home as well as helping others. Every purchase at Ozzie’s Furnishings benefits homeless and working poor men, women and children who too often go without life’s basic necessities.The wonderful and unique inventory at Ozzie’s moves fast — numerous treasures to be found daily!  Wednesday, April 20 – Saturday, April 23
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ozzie’s Furnishings
3927 E. Indian School Road 
Phoenix, AZ 85018There will be refreshments and surprise giveaways all four days!

Are you a collector of Southwestern art? Do you just love one-of-a-kind jewelry with Southwestern flair? Or perhaps you just love shopping at unique thrift stores. Whatever it may be, find the best selection of Southwest jewelry, boots, art, clothing and home decor at bargain prices!  

The St. Vincent de Paul Apache Junction Thrift Store is packed with thousands of Southwestern items that we have been collecting all year just for this sale! Do not miss out.

The sale began on February 1, there are still many treasures here, but don’t wait because these rare finds are not going to last long!

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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will host a volunteer sign-up day Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in an effort to recruit volunteers to serve at its Valley thrift store locations.

“We’re in need of committed, energetic and motivated volunteers of all ages to help in our thrift stores,” said Shirley Smalley, committee chair of the St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores. “People can stop by at their convenience throughout the day to sign-up and help us better serve those in need.”

Volunteer sign-up events will be held at the following seven locations:

• Apache Junction Thrift Store – 2540 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction – (480) 380-4515
• Bell Road Thrift Store – 2945 E. Bell Road, Phoenix – (602) 493-8126
• Chandler Thrift Store – 2051 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler – (480) 812-1156
• Glendale Thrift Store – 7018 N. 57th Avenue, Glendale – (623) 931-9901
• Ozzie’s Furnishings – 3931 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix – (602) 955-1460
• Mesa Thrift Store – 2352 W. Main Street, Mesa – (480) 644-0887
• Sunnyslope Thrift Store – 8231 N. 7th Street, Phoenix – (602) 861-2634

St. Vincent de Paul operates a total of 17 thrift stores throughout central and northern Arizona, where people in need—and the general public—can shop for low-cost clothing, furniture and household items. All proceeds from store sales directly fund St. Vincent de Paul’s much-needed programs and services for the homeless and working poor.

CLICK HERE to sign up and become a St. Vincent de Paul volunteer today!

The following is a public service video created in partnership with 12 News.

Hear the touching stories of hope and how St. Vincent de Paul has helped the homeless and working poor get back on their feet. This video was part of St. Vincent de Paul’s annual Restoring Hope through Faith and Love breakfast fundraiser in November. St. Vincent de Paul programs include services for the homeless, medical and dental care for the working poor, charity dining rooms, thrift stores, a transitional housing shelter and general assistance for individuals and families in need.

Interested in volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul?
Work together with your class, grade, church, troop, department or company to help restore hope for the needy in our community. Start a fundraising drive and challenge each other to see who can raise the most!

There are many temptations in life. But I think that word takes on a whole new meaning when you visit Ozzie’s Furnishings, a unique boutique filled with some of the nicest treasures donors have given St. Vincent de Paul.

Every time I visit the store, I find something that I just must have – a silver water pitcher, a set of white wicker chairs for my backyard, a drop-leaf table for my college son’s apartment, a mirror in a lovely old carved frame for my daughter’s bedroom, and I could go on.

So I was happy to see that The Arizona Republic named Ozzie’s Furnishings one of “5 decor shops for easy-on-the-wallet updates” in an article by Jaimee Rose and Susan Felt in Sunday’s newspaper (Feb. 7, 2010).

Here’s what the article said:

Ozzie’s Furnishings is the place to hunt for items like a Louis XVI bedroom set made in the 1930s, artwork, lamps, contemporary leather sofas and other family heirlooms donated to St. Vincent de Paul’s boutique-like store. New inventory arrives twice a week, and it’s priced to sell. Proceeds benefit St. Vincent’s charity programs.

3931 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-955-1460, ozziesfurnishings.com.

Gee, it’s been awhile since I visited. Time to see what other treasures are awaiting me. Maybe I’ll see you there!

The following article written by Steve Zabilski appeared in The Arizona Republic on January 30, 2010.

Feeling down after putting away all those lights and decorations? Here’s a surefire pick-me-up courtesy of your local St. Vincent de Paul.

A box of thank-you cards just arrived from the sweetest little angels you ever saw, the children at the Palomino School in north Phoenix. We invited them to one of our thrift stores to buy presents for 50 cents, so they could make Christmas special for their loved ones. What we got in return was priceless.

“Every Christmas all I can afford to give my mom is a drawing or a note,” wrote Vanessa. “But this time I gave her a real present, and it was because of you.”

“Thank you for the great gifts you let us buy for our parents,” wrote Jonathon. “They were crying when they opened them.”

I see lots of miracles as head of St. Vincent de Paul, made possible by your volunteering and contributing. But nothing moves your heart like the thanks of a child, especially the 400 heartwarming thank-you cards that came from these kids.

These innocents are the side of poverty you don’t see—the families of the working poor. Their parents, often a single parent, work hard to shelter, feed and clothe their children. But there are no extras like toys, new clothes, weekend movies or Christmas presents they do not expect to receive, let alone give.

So we invite them to our Bell Road thrift store to buy two, or more, presents for a mere 50 cents, so on Christmas morning they can make their families smile with unexpected gifts. Maybe it’s a new (slightly used) pair of work boots for Dad or a purse for Mom. Possibly it’s a favorite CD for their brother or sister to off at school.

Listening to their giggles, their oohs and ahs as they shared the treasures they found and gladly handed over their 50 cents, it was hard to fight back the tears of joy. These little bundles of love acted like they won the lottery simply because they could give a present to someone they loved.

“I got my dad a tie,” boasted Aushie. “He loved it so much he wore it to church and told everyone his daughter gave it to him for Christmas.”

“I gave my mom teacups,” said Isela. “Then we all drank cocoa out of them with marshmallows, and it tasted so good.”

“Thank you to all of you nice people,” wrote Jennifer. “You show us how to do the right things in life being nice to people.”

Thanks from the bottom of my heart to everyone who allows St. Vincent de Paul to make miracles happen. I hope St. Vincent’s gave you a little bit of inspiration back.

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.