Twelve years ago, Brackenridge resident Wendy Kelly found herself financially devastated. With a limited budget to buy back-to-school clothes for her children, she made a trip to the St. Vincent de Paul store on West Seventh Avenue in Tarentum.
"What a godsend it has been over the years for my children and myself," Kelly said in a letter.
For more than 30 years, Tarentum's St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store has been helping families like Kelly's purchase clothing needed for a better quality of life.
But all of that may change -- at least temporarily -- as the store will close its doors on July 30.
Plans for a newer, larger store are still in development.
Store manager Ed Burns was told last Saturday by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Pittsburgh that his store would have to close.
"They have been talking about it for months," Burns said.
Council Director Fred Just said the Tarentum store has been operating in debt for the last two years.
"We have to run a business in order to produce income to help the poor ... and if we're losing money, then we have to make changes," he said.
The council is planning to open a larger store in or near Tarentum.
"We believe that a store is needed in that area," Just said. "We're looking for Realtors to help us find another location."
The store's current building could not be renovated or enlarged in order to better compete with stores that have more retail space, Just said.
The council hopes to have a new store that is double the size of the West Tarentum building and have at least 7,500 to 10,000 square feet.
Burns said operational expenses are rising at the same time they are losing clientele to St. Vincent de Paul stores in Leechburg and Monroeville.
What separates the Tarentum store from others in the area is that it is run entirely by paid employees.
The St. Vincent de Paul store in Sharpsburg employs a mix of paid workers and volunteers, said store manager Carmela Martini.
At the store in Leechburg -- which relies only on volunteers -- Rich Trinclisti said business has been doing well. Trinclisti is the president of the board that oversees the Leechburg store.
"It is easier for us (to operate) than with a paid staff," he said. Because of the volunteers, they are able to sell things at a cheaper price, but many areas are finding it difficult to run even on a voluntary basis.
In addition to selling gently-used items at low prices, the Tarentum store donates clothing and housing items to local charities, including the HOPE Center, Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. Items are also donated to the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches.
"Whatever they need, we give it to them," Burns said.
At all St. Vincent de Paul stores, what revenue not used to pay for operational costs goes directly to charitable causes.
There is no question that the St. Vincent de Paul store has helped many people in Tarentum, Just said.
Customers have been disappointed to hear the news. A petition was started at the store to protest its closing. "We've filled out four or five pages in petitions," Burns said.
He added that once the store closes, "It's just going to be another empty building in West Tarentum, I think."
