Denver Catholic

BY NISSA LAPOINT The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has given to Denver's poor and needy for more than a cen- tury. Now the society is the one reaching out its hand for help. The situation is serious for the Catholic lay organization's thrift store on East Colfax Ave- nue. The organization's Denver Metro Council executive direc- tor Chris Strassburger is asking for help in the face of fluctuat- ing donations and an unbear- able lease that threatens to end the thrift store's work to serve Christ through the poor. "It's choking us," he said about the significant lease and property taxes the store pays. "The store is struggling." The store, which serves 30,000 people a year, may have to close before the end of the year. And with its closure would go the last Catholic-run thrift store in Colorado. "Without the store, those in need have one less place to shop," Strassburger said. The poor and needy should have access to the store where they can redeem vouchers for clothing, household goods and furniture, he said. The vouchers are covered by the society's par- ish-based conferences and the thrift store. Emergency support came from The Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado and Catholic Charities also came forward to expand its partner- ship with the society by agree- ing to help with donations to the thrift store. The society made its own advances in March by organiz- ing five volunteer committees to advance its mission through fundraising, training, confer- ence development, governance and the thrift store. Even under the financial bur- den, thrift store staff, volunteers and shoppers are happy with the store—almost enthusiastic. "This store truly represents St. Vincent de Paul," said shopper Berryl Small of Denver. She comes almost daily to look for bargains and vintage goods, something that's harder to find at other stores. "The people are also very friendly," she said. "I know there are people here who are truly in need." Other shoppers liked the re- newed feeling inside the store after its move from an older location on Colfax Avenue. The store boasted of uniform prices on clothing even with a design- er label and a large book collec- tion that would beat any store. Since migrating from Africa, Rachel Pyne of Denver said she was brought there for help with her needs. "I get all my clothes here," she said. Gail Suhr, a volunteer from Denver, said she loves to work with the public. She decid- ed to join the store because of her father's dedication to the organization. "Every time I come, it's a little different. It's kind of fun," she said. "Everybody is really nice that works here." Strassburger suggested ways the community can help to keep the thrift store open and help serve the poor (see accom- panying box). "They're the face of Christ," he said about the poor. "It's our duty and obligation to help them." Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa 12 I LOCAL NEWS JULY 30, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER DON'T FORGET TO SAY "THANKS!" DEACON APPRECIATION ISSUE August 13, 2014 The deadline to reserve your ad is August 5, 2014 The deadline for camera ready ads is August 7, 2014 For more information contact Mike O'Neill today at (303) 715-3253 or michael.oneill@archden.org MIRACLES AND THEIR MEANING To order DVD, visit our Web Site at: www.loveandmercy.org or send $20 plus $4 (shipping & handling) to: Love and Mercy Publications, P O Box 1160, Hampstead, NC 28443 This DVD is great for strengthening the faith of our family and friends. This powerful witness, given by Tim Francis, has touched and transformed lives, setting souls on fire worldwide. This is truly a New Evangelization call for all as we awaken our faith. W hat science discovers will confront the mind and heart of every person. The DVD presents the findings from the investigations of a bleeding statue of Christ in Cochabamba, Bolivia and of a Eucharistic miracle in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the later commissioned by Cardinal Bergoglio in 1999. This Cardinal is now known to the world as Pope Francis! SIGNS FROM GOD NEW DVD – JUST RELEASED! Bleeding Statue Eucharistic Miracle Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary 12801 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 425-9511 Mt. Olivet Cemetery 12801 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 424-7785 St. Simeon Cemetery 22001 E. State Hwy. 30 Aurora, CO 80018 (720) 859-9785 • Professional, personalized service • Respectful • Compassionate Caring for the faithful in Northern Colorado since 1893 in their most personal time of need. THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER CEMETERIES AND MORTUARY CROSSWORD Saving the last Catholic-run thrift store in the state HOW TO HELP ST. VINCENT DE PAUL THRIFT STORE The last Catholic-run thrift store in the state founded in the 1950s and started by the Soci- ety of St. Vincent de Paul who arrived in Colorado in 1878. Donate: online through www. coloradogives.org. Make check payable to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Denver Metro Council; mail to 2250 S. Harrison St., Denver, CO 80210. Or leave a donation in a Catholic church's poor box. Give: gently used household items, electronics and cloth - ing to an area parish with an SVdP conference. Vehicles may also be donated by calling 1-800-322-8284. Shop: at the thrift store at 6260 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. Volunteer: at the thrift store by calling 303-388-3315 or at your local parish's SVDP conference. Find the list of conferences at http://svdpden.org. Participate: in the society's annual fundraiser "Friends of the Poor Walk" 8:30 a.m. Sept. 20 at Our Lady of Loreto Church, 18000 E. Arapahoe Road, Foxfield. SVDP'S "NO-SHOW GALA" Help the society raise funds during its gala without a time or date. When: in the next 30-days or so RSVP: by making a donation How: Visit www.coloradogives. org and search for "Society of St. Vincent de Paul." Or mail in a check to the SVdP Metro Council address above. PHOTO BY NISSA LAPOINT/DCR SHOPPERS spend time inside the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store at 6260 Colfax in Denver.

• Cover