Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

St. Vincent de Paul uses unwanted items to help the needy

The volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul of Fallbrook have been taking donations of items from local residents and converting them into dollars to aid thousands of needy people since 2000.

When visitors to the thrift shop find clothes, furniture and other household goods at low prices, they not only go away with good deals, they also help their fellow residents as the funds raised go to individuals in need as well as other nonprofits in the area.

Countless volunteers have served the community at the thrift shop – several since the beginning – but with recent "retirements", the need for more workers reached the point of nearly causing the shop to close on Fridays.

Publicity chairman Lucy Alvarez said they hate the thought of closing the shop any day of the week as that would impact the amount of money they would be able to raise. An appeal at a local church brought in 32 new volunteers she said, but more are always needed.

Donations can be dropped off at the back of the shop building at 520 S. Main Ave. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. The shop also has a truck that goes out to pick up large pieces of furniture; residents can call (760) 728-7012 to arrange for pick up.

Anyone who is moving and not able to take their furniture with them can take advantage of this service (instead of leaving them on the side of the road or in a dumpster). Besides giving furniture a second chance with people who need it, the shop accepts all kinds of other items. It only takes a few minutes to drive by and donate them.

Alvarez did say that donations should not be dropped off on Sundays, which is the one day the shop is closed. When the thrift shop is overflowing with donations, volunteers direct donors to other local thrift stores that can use the items.

Besides distributing funds to area residents who are in emergency need of help, St. Vincent de Paul gives donations to local nonprofits including the Fallbrook Food Pantry, REINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, Fallbrook Adult Day Care Center and the Fallbrook Senior Center.

Anyone who would like to donate a few hours a month to this worthwhile cause can call (760) 728-7012 for more information.

 

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