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Marie Meyer, Shirley Jankowich and Lois Luehrs were busy arranging items and tending to customers when Lois spied a sturdy brown suitcase. She looked over the item, tilting it sideways and bending over to examine its nearly spotless outer covering. She became even more excited when she saw the price.
"If you're planning a trip, this is a bargain for $15," said Lois.
"We just get a lot of different things, and some of them are really, really good," said Shirley, "and they sell for reasonable prices."
"We really do get very interesting things" such as art collections, CDs and prints, added Marie.
The three women are among the volunteers who work at the Laurel House Thrift Store, located at 501 Summer St. Some volunteers come in once a week, some more than that, but all play a vital role in maintaining the shop--itself a source of community support.
The thrift shop is a nonprofit enterprise that helps raise funds for Laurel House, a local agency offering help to people suffering from mental illness. Laurel House's holistic treatment approach includes peer support, housing provisions, and employment and education opportunities.
Lois, Shirley and Marie are all longtime thrift shop volunteers. "It's something helpful. I and it's nice to help people," said Marie. Plus, she joked, "It helps keep me out of trouble."
Regular customers depend on the volunteers to relay information about new deliveries and special finds among the clothing, furniture, books, toys and other donations. "Everything but the kitchen sinkand we might get that," said Lois.
Music enthusiast David Suit seeks out rare recordings at the shop, and six-year-old Samantha Coimin likes to look at the new books and toys that come in. "I'm pretty sure I love this place," said Samantha, "because it's so beautiful."
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