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12/13/2017 07:30 AMWith a love and passion for helping people, it’s no surprise that Margaret Lifton is the lead volunteer for The Good Shepherd Thrift Store, which is located inside Christ and the Epiphany Church by the Town Green.
Margaret found out about the thrift store when she and her husband Lawrence began attending church at Christ and the Epiphany.
“I love helping people, and I put a lot into it,” Margaret says, adding that she’ll clean things that come in, and make sure everything that’s put out is presentable.
She makes sure the clothes are clean and have zippers that work, among other details. Bringing bags of clothes back and forth from the store to her home and back to the store again, she says with a laugh, “My husband says, ‘You’re crazy.’”
She says it’s not just about selling stuff; it’s more about helping people. Sometimes people will come in and tell Margaret they need something, but then tell her they’ll come back when they have money. Instead, she’ll give them a bag and tell the person to get whatever he or she needs.
Through having a conversation, Margaret says she can find out a little more about whoever it is, and that she’s made friends with people by doing that. Some of them have even come back to volunteer and help.
“If I worked at like, Goodwill, I wouldn’t be able to do that, and that’s the difference,” Margaret says, “To me it’s not a job, it’s just I love doing this.”
It sometimes breaks her heart to see and hear the stories of the people who come to the store with nothing. However, it’s also very rewarding for her to help those people.
Having previously worked in education and having owned her own daycare, Margaret says she’s helped others before in different ways, and gotten paid to do it. While she enjoyed those roles, she calls her work with the thrift store more rewarding than anything she’s done in her career.
She shared a story where she became friends with a gentleman who’s single, a veteran, and doesn’t have much. After making a pot of turkey soup and not knowing what to do with all of it, she shared it with her new friend.
“That’s what I’m about; I like to just do things like that,” Margaret says, “I don’t even think about it, I just kind of do it.”
The thrift store was previously only open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but with the food pantry open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Margaret suggested the church have the thrift store open on those days from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. as well, so those who go to the pantry can visit the store at the same time. Margaret has also helped organize a new children’s section for the store.
The shop has a steady demand and an appreciative audience. Margaret says that some people who are in a tough financial spot or even homeless have come in and have been moved to tears by the help and generosity of Margaret and others at the store.
“Many people have been coming in, but since I have great help here…and they’re just so helpful and that’s what I needed also because I can’t do this on my own,” Margaret says.
It’s not only people in East Haven who benefit from the good deeds of the thrift store, as clothes and other materials also are delivered as part of Midnight Run, the church’s outreach ministry to the homeless in New Haven. Clothes are even sent to Africa as well.
“It’s rewarding that I can also help them,” Margaret says.
Margaret says the store is always looking for donations, and things like clothes, socks, winter hats, hygiene products, diapers, children’s toys, gift cards from supermarkets, and even bins and display racks for clothes. There’s a shed where donations can be left behind the church near the rear exit.
Those who are interested in volunteering, including young people looking for community service hours, can call Margaret at 203-215-2216. She also says those looking for help are sometimes shy or embarrassed to come in first, so they can also contact her to set something up before if they’d like.
“I’m easy to get along with, that’s for sure,” she says.