Feb. 2007 Almost New Shop Report
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The year, 2006, has been a very busy and difficult year. We have now become more widely known and thus have grown accordingly. Due to the number of people moving out of the area, as well as, estates clearing out and just house keeping, we have sometimes run out of room and man power to handle all of the merchandise we receive.

We have met many lovely people from as far away as New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and all over Long Island. Many continue to come to us quite regularly and are now our friends.

We have served 1,193 customers during the year, plus 75 people alone on the day of the Holly Fair. In total we served 1,268 people during 2006 and the Shop has been able to contribute $20,000 in increments of $5,000 during this year to the Church.

We have 4 regular volunteers, one from Rego Park, one from Little Neck, one from Manhasset and Marilyn Gardner from our Church. Others that will always help when we are in a pinch are: Kathy and Vince McGill, Valerie and Bill Siener, Dick Field and always, Kathy Hoffmann. I am most grateful to each one.

The support from our parishioners is really very little. I would guess perhaps, no more than 10% of our members have ever come to see what the Almost New Shop it is all about.

There is much talk about outreach in our surrounding communities—none I feel is greater that what is available in our blue house which covers all the segments of the population. It is all for free and costs us nothing, except a little time and effort.

When will we realize that we all must step up and help this Parish Family to survive? Not just for the shop, which will close its doors at the end of June, 2007; but for all the work that we must take on in the coming years? 

 

Respectfully submitted

H. Audrey Eisser, Chairman

6 February 2007