Letter to the editor: Negative consequences of after-hours St. Vincent De Paul donations
Dear editor,
I want to thank the many supportive people in our community for their generous donations to the Marshfield St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store. Our staff and volunteers work very diligently to provide a clean and welcoming store for you to visit and shop. We strive to offer great prices, friendly service, and convenient hours for dropping off donations and shopping.
Lately, we have been experiencing an increase of items being dropped off after hours. This creates several problems. Some of the items are in no condition to be sold, or the store does not accept those items. At other times quality merchandise is left outside our building, and people go through the items to take what they want, leaving everything in disarray.
The third problem is that when the weather changes to rain or snow, many items are ruined and must be thrown away, which increases the store’s disposal fees. Increased disposal fees cut into the profits that the store spends for the special works it operates, like food pantries, holiday baskets, prescriptions, or other types of financial assistance. When items are dropped off after hours it affects those who are hungry or cold or homeless.
We offer a free pick-up service if you cannot bring your items to the store during normal business hours. Please call 715-387-4425, and we will gladly schedule a day and time to pick up your donation.
This is an ongoing problem and one that I am asking each one of you to help alleviate. Please do not drop items at St. Vincent De Paul after hours. It hurts everyone in the community and prevents us from helping some of those most in need.
Thank you to those who support us through donations, shopping, and volunteering. You help us help others.
Together in caring,
Kathleen Dierickx, St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store manager, and Jerald Lang, Board of directors president
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