Getting involved with St. Vincent de Paul is a very simple process considering the enormous rewards. There are two ways from which to choose to become involved. One is by volunteering and the other is by becoming a member.
Iron River SVDP Thrift Store Volunteer -
The Iron River SVDP Thrift Store, established in 1984 and blessed with dedicated employees and volunteers, continues to meet the needs of the community throughout the area. When the store opened, there were only a few metal shelves to display merchandise. Through the dedication of a particular Vincentian, Elzmer Ehlinger of Iron River, the store now has a large number and wide variety of shelves throughout the building. The shelves crafted by Elzmer come in every shape and size to meet the needs of the store.
Elzmer is a longtime volunteer who works two days a week, even on Sundays, to further the mission of the store. His activities have included displaying holiday items, pricing merchandise, cutting tags, stocking, straightening clothes, working in the warehouse and standard maintenance from time to time. However, his specialty is building and finishing beautiful shelves around the store. In fact, he has constructed 150 linear feet of shelving this past year. Although the store generally purchases the lumber and hardware, Elzmer has donated the lumber from time to time.
Elzmer is a World War II Army veteran who served in the southwest Pacific and is a former U.S. Postal employee. He belongs to St. Agnes Parish where he serves as an usher and lector. He is also a 3rd Degree member in the Knights of Columbus. Elzmer joined the St. Agnes SVDP Conference in 1992 and served as the Conference President in 1999.
As the saying goes, behind every good man is a good woman. Lucy, Elzmer’s wife, has been involved as a SVDP volunteer at the store for many years. They are both dedicated to the SVDP Store’s goals of being financially successful in order to assist our friends in need in our area.
The Iron River SVDP Thrift Store is blessed to have Elzmer and Lucy as two of their many dedicated volunteers and friends.
Dorothy Aregoni
Vice Chairman of the Store Committee
Iron River SVDP Thrift Store
Featured Volunteers: If you know of a volunteer or volunteers who you would like to honor let us know, and we will be happy to put them on our website.