At the annual thrift shop luncheon held Thursday, 59 volunteers attended.

“I’m always amazed how the donations keep coming in,” said Lois Lee, one of the co-directors of the Good Shepherd Thrift Shop and Food Bank. “They were phenomenal this Christmas, with organizations and individuals giving.”

Publicity about the organization’s mission helps, too, she said.

“Any time there is anything in the paper about the thrift shop, we see an increase in donations,” Lee said.

Lee also was quick to credit the volunteers’ work for the thrift shop’s success.

“This wouldn’t happen without our volunteers coming in and getting things ready to sell,” Lee said, noting that more volunteers are always wanted.

Ongoing thrift shop needs include donations of food, such as peanut butter, cereal, jelly and macaroni and cheese.

“It’s everybody working together,” Lee said. “It’s the people in the community helping one another.”

The other co-directors of the thrift shop are Shirley Shaeffer and Dorothy Korb.

Claudia Bakely, who recently accepted a ministerial position at a Methodist church in Emporia, has also served as a co-director of the thrift shop.