- April 25, 2024
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Local residents and the homeless can get food and clothing.
Wayne Grant
Staff Writer
The Hand Me Ups thrift shop, 1100 Ocean Shore Blvd., looks like other thrift stores. There are racks of clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, household items, toys, etc. But there’s a unique difference.
Rather than just raising money for those in need, they work with them directly. They have a food bank downstairs, and provide vouchers for those in need so they also can get clothing.
The store was started about three years ago by The Society of Saint Vincent dePaul of nearby St. Brendan Catholic Church. Food and clothing is donated by area residents and church members, and money raised in the thrift store is used to buy food for the pantry.
Lois Jaskulsky, vice president of the society, said when she and her husband moved to the beachside 10 years ago, they felt like they were moving to paradise. After the society opened the thrift store and food pantry about three years ago, she found out it’s not paradise for everyone.
She said she was shocked at how many people in the area have trouble making ends meet. For example, there are families with children who get food stamps, but sometimes near the end of the month they need help putting enough food on the table.
The Hand Me Ups store also helps the homeless. Jaskulsky tells the story of a man who was living in nearby woods.
“We were able to provide food, then a tent, then clothes,” she said. “That led to a dish washing job and an apartment. We’re happy about him. There are not many stories like that but that’s why we do what we do.”
They have a special food package for the homeless, called a snack pack. It has food items that don’t need cooking, as well as tooth paste, deodorant, etc.
For the homeless, simple items like socks and underwear are important.
“That doesn’t sound like much to us who live in a house but to them it’s a big deal,” she said.
“We’re not just handing out a bag of groceries,” Jaskulsky said. “Hopefully they can pull themselves out of a hole. They realize there are people willing to help them and not judge them.”
They sometimes help people get bus tickets so they can return home. For example, a young couple had moved to the area, hoping for a bright future. They couldn’t find work and ended up on the street. The Society of Saint Vincent dePaul worked with a chapter in the couples’ hometown and were able to get them back home.
The society is aided by the St. Vincentians, fifth through eighth-grade students at St. Brendan. At the school, the students had an opportunity to have a dress-down day if they donated $5. The St. Vincentians were able to provide $1,040 to the thrift store.
“We feel like this is what our faith has asked us to do,” Jaskulsky said. “Our mission is to feed and clothe the needy.”
