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St. Vincent de Paul Resale Store History

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world that offers person to person assisstance to the needy and suffering and it provides moral and Christian friendship in the tradition of its founder, Venerable Frederic Osanam and patron St. Vincent de Paul. The St. Vincent de Paul stores are a funding source for the works of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and they are the most visible examples of Vincentianism at work throughout the world.

The first SVDP store in Kiel was located at the old mill on Fremont Street and was opened in 1984 by managers Carlton & Marilyn Goodrich. After they retired in 1991 the store was closed for a number of years. In 2001 a building was rented in the 800 block of Fremont Street to be used for a pantry and SVDP store. Rose and Vicki Heimermann were the managers of the store that was compromised mostly of clothing and household items. Due to increased donations and limited store space a decision was made to move the pantry elsewhere. It was moved to a central location in Kiel and a civic group took over the operations of the pantry.

Donations of larger items such as furniture contined to increase so land was then purchased on the outskirts of Kiel and a new store was built there in 2006. As the store contined to grow so did the donations so an addition was built in 2009 to increase the size of the store as well as the working and storage areas.

There are currently more than 75 volunteers who work at the store. The purpose of the store is to continue to assist area people in need with clothing, household items and financial assistance.

May God continue to bless the efforts of all of the valuable volunteers who come so that we can build on the premise that "whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, that you do unto me".