ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH THRIFT STORE

1st Semester, 2013

 

 

I decided to volunteer at the St. Peter's Episcopal Church Thrift Store in Del Mar. A family friend of mine, Jeanne, practically runs the place, and I've been volunteering there since I was six years old. I practically grew up there and I know the place like the back of my hand, so what could be a better place? The store is miniscule, nothing compare to a Goodwill or Salvation Army, but it holds about as many items. It's packed from wall to wall with everything you can imagine. Fur coats, old ice skates, wetsuits, old records and books galore. It's a little overwhelming, to be completely honest. Growing up, I spent countless hours tucked away in the corner of the thrift store, reading books, trying on sequined jackets and setting the needle to quirky old records. I spent my childhood there, finding adventure in every inch of the crowded 800 square foot room St. Peter’s Episcopal church. I used to think the store was magic, because every time I asked for something, it would mysteriously appear in the store's donation box the very next day. The thrift store had made up most of my vast book collection as a kid and, after ten years of adventures there, I knew it was where I wanted to offer my service.

 

The fact that I was no stranger to the store meant that I could get right to work. My first day, I was put on book duty. The donation drop off is perpetually filled to the brim with books of every sort, some surprisingly brand new. It was my job to determine the genre, shelving and price of each book. I was an old pro at this by now, and I loved flipping through some of the wackier donations. Chris, the owner of the store, even let me keep a novel or two.

Jeanne comes in every day to make sure things stay manageable. She's been volunteering there for over fifteen years and she's never once gotten a pay check for the work she does. I was curious, why dedicate so much of her life to something that didn't support her in return? She said I was wrong. The incredible sense of community at the thrift store was payment enough. When she had lost her job a few years back, Jeanne said that the thrift store gave her a sense of purpose. After working six and seven hour shifts, I knew she was genuine. I’ve never met kinder people than the people who work there.    

My favorite moments at the store were always after hours. After the store closes for the day, my family friend who helps run the store, Jeanne, opens the doors to a few less fortunate customers. Jeanne gives away blankets and warm clothes to a handful of homeless members of the church. I was fortunate enough to get to know a few of them a little bit during my time there. An ex-Yankee catcher, a once-pro surfer and a sweet mother of two were all regulars at the after-hours thrift store. And suddenly it wasn’t about sorting donations or pricing books. It was our job to make sure these people were going to be a little warmer I've never seen people so grateful.