×
×
homepage logo

Good Shepherd thanks store volunteers with luncheon

By Shawn Linenberger - | May 5, 2011

The volunteers who make the Good Shepherd Thrift Store and Food Bank continue to operate received a big pat on the back Friday.

Each year, Tonganoxie churches rotate in playing host to a luncheon for the many volunteers who work at the store five days per week.

“That’s basically their pay for the year,” said Janet Stuke, one of the day managers at the store. “And they have a chance to see the other volunteers.”

Volunteers are assigned to specific days of the week, so it’s possible some volunteers don’t see each other on a regular basis.

There are roughly 60 to 70 volunteers — including Stuke and other volunteer day managers Lynn McEachron, Shirley Sheaffer and Dorothy Dunlap.

This year’s luncheon took place at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Local merchants and others donated items to be given out through a drawing.

“Basically we try to make sure everybody goes home with something,” Stuke said.

In 2010, the thrift store and food bank raised $90,698.32 through donations and sales at the store, Sheaffer said. She said money spent to assist families and to operate the thrift store and food bank totaled about $90,000 in 2010. Also, no money is spent on wages for any staff, Stuke pointed out.

Volunteers worked 4,877 hours in 2010, and the group helped 1,034 families in 2010.

The store assists families in both Leavenworth and Johnson counties.

Stuke noted that the thrift store and food bank is funded entirely through donations and sales and is not a recipient of funding from other organizations, such as the United Way.