Category: News || By Adam Spate

By Adam Spate
Special to Tube City Almanac

Drive along Grandview Avenue in McKeesport on a Wednesday afternoon and you could be surprised at the flurry of activity surrounding the Beulah Park United Methodist Church. Cars line the street outside the Grover Street entrance, and people are walking out with bags full of this and that.

Every Wednesday, except holidays, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. the church hosts a real gem for the bargain hunter, the Beulah Park Thrift Store. Inside you will find rooms and rooms full of glassware, clothing, books, toys and general household items.

Occasionally you also find furniture, but the early birds --- those who show up every week just before 10 a.m.), usually have that all gone by 10:30.

. . .

There are four former Sunday school rooms of merchandise plus a hallway that are literally stacked to the ceiling with donations.

According to the volunteers who work there each week, every Wednesday they sort through at least 10 to 12 boxes and bags of donations dropped off throughout the week.

One room is dedicated to sorting the donations into what can be used and what can not. Any items they can't use, or have too many of, are packed up and sent to the Vietnam Veterans of America to hopefully be used in one of the thrift stores they partner with.

One of the volunteers, Mitzi Wigand, says the thrift store is much more than just a place to find bargains.

Local fire departments call when someone has lost their house. The church does its own outreach to poor families, while the Salvation Army also comes in to help those in need, and St Mary's Sisters of Charity visit to find items they can use in their efforts.

. . .

Wigand tells of one man who was living under a bridge in the city before someone took him in due to the below-freezing temperatures. He had very little, so they came to the Beulah Park thrift store and were given clothes and other items he needed to help him out.

Sometimes families come in to buy clothes they cannot afford elsewhere, and the church does everything they can to help them, Wigand says.

The store is staffed by volunteers from the church who come in every Wednesday to help out. In addition to Wigand, regulars include Ruby Escott, Pat Kelly, Virginia Sporgeon, Donna Pancost, Carol Roney and Norma Dunly, though others help when they're available.

There's also a social element to their work --- volunteers say they enjoy talking to people from the community and seeing their friends.

. . .

Proceeds benefit the church's projects, with about 10 percent of the income being sent to missions and the remainder used to send as many children from the church as possible to summer camp in Jumonville. Any balances are returned to the church's general fund.

Last year, the thrift store averaged about $225 in sales per week, volunteers said.

At a time when many churches are struggling to stay open, Beulah Park has found one way to keep going --- as well as return something to the community.

. . .

Beulah Park UMC Thrift Store is located at 1615 Grandview Ave. and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays.

Items available include men's, women's and children's clothing, books starting at six for $1, and toys starting at 25 cents. There also is a holiday room featuring Christmas and Easter items.

Donations are accepted at the church office. Call (412) 672-2785 for information.

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