ROCK FALLS—“It’s this community here that makes us a success,” says Wanda Schmitt, store manager of St. Andrew Thrift Store.
“Everybody helps everybody,” she says on the Wednesday afternoon of the store’s weeklong half-price sale in recognition of its 10th anniversary. “We have some good stories.”
Those stories began more than 10 years ago when the St. Andrew School Education Commission decided to try a fundraising booth at the Whiteside County Fair. A week of rain the first year and a school year change the second significantly affected fair attendance. Although for both years the commission made a little money, it was “nothing to say ‘Wow, it was worth it,’” Schmitt says, so the commission began to discuss the idea of a thrift shop. A space became available, and “it had to be,” she says.
That space on Hwy. 40 near the intersection of Hwy. 30 turned out to be a great location, with a “good Catholic (landlord) from Sterling” and now a new landlord who is a “good, good man,” Schmitt says. However, one early prediction proved to be wrong: “Man, we’ll never fill this place up, it’s so big.”
What could be overwhelming is in fact a thoughtful and organized space that creates a shoppable store. Following an entrance featuring items like refrigerators and stoves that soon are sold is an area where a few chairs and couches help “to make it look nice, homey, welcoming everybody,” Schmitt says.
The large center space has a variety of themed spaces — cards, books, music (vinyl and CDs), collectibles, holidays, lamps, kitchen items. Clothing (men’s, women’s, children’s) is displayed by size, and a rack of tee-shirts are hung by both size and color just because it looks nice. One side room has coats and boots, while wedding and first communion dresses are hung near the restrooms/dressing rooms. Pajamas, maternity clothes and formal gowns all have their own spaces. Schmitt regretfully says that men’s shoes and clothing are not abundant because men tend to wear their clothes “until they are completely worn out.”
But the men are not forgotten. One smaller room off the large one is a “man cave” of hardware items, large (tools) and small (screws, etc.). “We keep it out of sight because we can’t keep it organized,” Schmitt says with a grin.
Another opening leads to a workroom in back with a sink to wash donated dishes, a table for bookwork, and shelves, racks and bins for clothing and other donations to be sorted and organized. “It takes a lot to keep it organized,” Schmitt says.
One St. Andrew Parish volunteer, Margo Horner, works contentedly in the back of that large work room, sorting and folding clothing, sheets, towels and more. A long-time J.C. Penney employee, Horner says with a grin that she’s good at folding fitted sheets. She adds that when she retired, she missed socializing with the public and now enjoys interacting with workers and shoppers at the thrift store. “I’m retired, and this is my social hour,” she says.
St. Andrew parishioner Doug Rhodes also mentions the social aspect of the store. When he retired, he volunteered at several places for awhile. He now gives six days a week of his time to the thrift store. “It keeps me busy,” he says, “keeps me going. I enjoy meeting different people.”
Schmitt rattles off the names of several other volunteers from St. Andrew Parish, beginning with her husband, Ed, who has worked on the thrift store since it began.
Don, working the front counter, is her cousin who works nights at St. Andrew and serves at the parish as a greeter, reader, and Eucharistic minister. Michelle, who Schmitt has known since first grade, often works with Margo in back. Pam “does the books and the sorting — a very smart women,” says Schmitt, while Mary, president of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, comes in and “prices little things, and helps wherever we need help.”
On Tuesdays, Sally serves as “master of the kitchen,” Schmitt says, testing all the electronic kitchen gadgets to make sure they work. “It’s great when she checks the coffee pots,” she says of the wonderful smells, adding that “we sell a lot of coffee pots” and that Sally “does a great job at pricing and putting them out.” She notes that they look up the prices of china sets and other higher end items.
Some volunteers have gone above and beyond their normal duties when helping. One, for example, spent time with a young promgoer, outfitting him with a dress jacket and teaching him how to tie a tie. A listening ear, a hug, a word of encouragement and friendliness have uplifted more than one shopper.
Even community service volunteers have been a big asset. “They’re happy to do whatever needs to be done,” Schmitt says, noting their kindness toward customers.
“I’m just so proud of this area,” she adds. “Everybody comes in. Nobody gets paid. We’re all volunteers. We are thankful to everyone for their generous donations and purchases during these 10 years.
“I can’t tell you a ‘best story.’ Every day is unique.”
St. Andrew Thrift Store is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All funds raised support St. Andrew School. The store is located at 1100B First Avenue, in Rock Falls.
