January 19, 2012: Meijer Donates Nearly $10,000 to Help St. Vincent de Paul Open Temporary Location After December Fire Destroyed Lansing Thrift Store

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               

CONTACT:     Christina Fecher, 616-735-7968

christina.fecher@meijer.com

 

Meijer Donates Nearly $10,000 to Help St. Vincent de Paul Open Temporary Location After December Fire Destroyed Lansing Thrift Store

 

Thrift store still in need of cash registers, shopping carts and in-kind donations

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Jan. 19, 2012) – Meijer has donated nearly $10,000 in merchandise and gift cards to the Lansing St. Vincent de Paul thrift store after the longtime community institution that helps 250 people a month was destroyed by a fire in December.

 

The merchandise donation from Meijer consists primarily of store fixtures, such as display cases, shelving, work tables, clothing racks, file cabinets and other office supplies that will be used at the nonprofit’s temporary location slated to open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 5206 S. Cedar in Lansing. Two local Meijer stores also made cash donations in the form of Meijer gift cards.

 

“Meijer is committed to supporting the communities in which its team members and customers live and work, and we appreciate organizations that do the same for those in need,” said Hank Meijer, co-chairman. “We gladly gave this donation to help St. Vincent de Paul continue their mission to help those in need. They are an important institution in the community, and our hearts go out to them during this time of need.”

 

The St. Vincent de Paul store at 1020 S. Washington in Lansing was destroyed by a fire on Dec. 18.

“We have a store, we have donations and we’ll be up and running by the end of the month,” said Marcia Maiville, president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “I couldn’t have dreamed we could do that. We can’t thank our generous donors enough, including Meijer, who really, really cares about what happens to the poor and those who are in the most need.”

 

Maiville said donations have been coming in from the community to help St. Vincent open a temporary location so they can continue to help an estimated 250 people a month with utilities, furniture and clothing.

 

However, they are still in need of some big items, including cash registers, shopping carts, in-kind donations of furniture, electronics, appliances and clothing, as well as customers.

 

“It would be a blessing if people continue to give, and when our doors open, come in and shop,” Maiville said.

 

Annually, Meijer donates more than 6 percent of its net profits to charity.

 

For more information on St. Vincent de Paul, please visit www.svdplansing.org, or call 517-272-1273.

 

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 197 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. As the inventor of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

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