Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, in Hancock, completed its “seasonal flip” this week, with spring and summer inventory now on display.

HANCOCK — The St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) thrift store, on Quincy Street in Hancock, is reorganizing the basement of its facility and during the period of April 3-11 will not be accepting donations, said Carla Johnson, store manager. Donations will again be accepted starting April 12.

Johnson said the reorganization is to allow for more room to accept the donations, because starting on the 12, her goal is to accept them at the back entrance, at the large white doors.

“I’m going to have someone downstairs every day we’re open, to take them and assist people with the donations,” she said.

Once the donations have been received, they will be processed through a sorting and separating area that will streamline the process of getting items sorted, cleaned, priced and out on the sales floor.

“When we start taking donations again on Apr. 12,” said Johnson, “our donation schedule is not the same as hours of operation.”

Donations can be made on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The store’s hours are Monday-Saturday.

Donations accepted include new or gently used clothes, shoes, furniture and other household items.

The store has seen a steady increase in business over the past few years and the proceeds from the business stay in the local community, said Johnson.

The purpose of the thrift store is to fund the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, which is located next door to the store, and to also fund the assistance offices.

There are 17 SVdP stores throughout the Upper Peninsula, which operate under the umbrella of the Catholic Diocese of Marquette, which is divided into districts. Within the Copper Country district, is the store located in Hancock, the Resurrection Conference, and the Sacred Heart Conference, in L’Anse.

“We are the two stores,” said Johnson, “that support L’Anse, Baraga, Chassell, Hancock and Calumet.”

In order for a community to have a SVdP store, the bishop has to invite the Society of SVdP into the community, Johnson said, and also the parish priests in that area must also want a SVdP conference in the same area. SVdP serves people in need, however, without regard to denomination.