New location in St. Johns
Members report that there was a good turnout for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the St. Vincent de Paul Store in St. Johns on Thursday January 19. The store is located next to Sav-A-Lot in the Southpoint Mall.
Special Guests for the ceremony were Delores Houser who served as a volunteer store manager for several years and Pat Snyder who served as a volunteer assistant store manager who continues to serve as a store volunteer and is the current Board Treasurer.
Also on hand were Bill Asher and his wife Yvonne. Bill is our longest serving Vincentian. Bill began serving as a St. Vincent de Paul volunteer in 1954 which makes him a volunteer for over 57 years. City Manager-Dennis LaForest shared his congratulations. They were also pleased to have the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and the ladies with the Red Hat Society who helped them celebrate.
Since they are a Catholic lay organization, it was fitting to have their building and work blessed by the Church. Deacon Marvin Robertson offered a blessing over the retail space and a blessing upon the work of the St. Vincent de Paul volunteers.
Many people were recognized for their work in preparing the space for the new store. Ross Pope, Tom and Mary Hutton, Vern Smith, Tom Wenzlick, Dennis Koenigsknecht, Doug and LaVonne Schafer, Gary Brown and several St. Vincent volunteers put in a great amount of time.
Members point out that the group couldn’t have accomplished it all without the work that was provided by the Clinton County RESA Building Trades classes. They are a great group of young men.
The following businesses should be recognized for their contributions:
Christine Cleaver with Southpoint Mall, Darryl Schmitz with 33 1/3 Sound, Dave Schroeder with Wieber Lumber, Don Kebler with Chasco Plumbing & Heating, Steve Weber with Weber Plumbing, Sue Carroll and Marv with Habitat ReStore, Steve Maiville with St. Vincent de Paul Store in Lansing, Tom Wenzlick with Lansing Sanitary Supply, Bruce DeLong with Michigan Graphics and Signs, Sam Smith with Smith Family Funeral Homes, Sue Lounds with the Clinton County News, Angi Bunn with the Independent Informer, Dave Hunt with St. Johns Big Boy, Doug and Lisa Belise – Owners of Sav-A-Lot and their Manager, Mike Gallihugh, and of course Clinton County RESA students who helped them move to the new space.