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MARQUETTE – The St. Vincent de Paul Store in Marquette has changed its hours that donations can be dropped off at its facility on Presque Isle Avenue.
The new drop-off hours are a 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The store itself is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Saturday.
The change in times to drop off donations is being made to address concerns with items being dropped off when the facility is closed.
In a news release, St. Vincent officials said they are working to make the change beneficial to everyone, because dropping off items after hours only create several problems, including:
– Some of the items are in no condition to be sold in the store or they are items the store won’t accept.
– When the store is closed, quality merchandise is left outside the building and some people feel entitled to go through the items to take what they want and leave everything in disarray.
– If it rains or snows, the items are ruined and must be thrown away, which increases the store’s disposal fees.
– St. Vincent de Paul pays $ 1,350 in garbage fees each month. Increased disposal fees cut into the profits that the store sends to the food pantry, holiday baskets, prescriptions or other types of financial assistance.
Included in programs the St. Vincent de Paul Society offered in 2014-15 are:
Food Pantry – $220,069 was spent on food and more than 20,156 people were assisted. Food donations amounted to about 25,400.
Financial Assistance – $79,573.00 was spent on rent and other monetary assistance.
Prescription – $9,273.00 was spent on prescriptions, with more than 425 people receiving assistance.
Christmas Program – Roughly $29,000 was spent on toys, clothes and food, with more than 600 families and 567 children receiving assistance.