For more than 50 years, the St. James' Thrift Shop has been operating within the Skaneateles community.

It has been able to do so through the efforts of a hardworking group of volunteers, mostly senior citizens and retirees.

“We#'ve always had wonderful volunteers,” said Edna Bardwell, facilitator for the St. James' Thrift Shop. “They have always been very dedicated. We couldn't do what we do with out their help.”

But while she was looking recently through the list of volunteers to assess who was active and who wasn't, Bardwell discovered that there is a staggering shortage.

“There have been times when we've had an overabundance of volunteers,” Bardwell recalled.

“But through illness or moving away, or people that are here in the summer but live in Florida the rest of the year, or are away for two weeks or just old age or other things that have occurred, we've found that we are low on volunteers.”

And so Bardwell is putting the call out for help. The thrift store, which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, is an important arm of St. James' fundraising and outreach efforts.

“Our job is to help enhance the church's outreach abilities,” Bardwell said. “If there is something that isn't covered in the church budget, then we are there to give a helping hand or make a donation.“

Bardwell said that the money raised from the thrift store has made a difference both locally and internationally.

Among the various efforts the thrift store has helped fund have been programs that have reached El Salvador, as well as donations to the Skaneateles Ecumenical Food Pantry.

This has been possible because the store is staffed by volunteers, people that in many ways have become like a family.

“A lot of people like to volunteer because they like the work and they like the people,” Bardwell said. “They get to know everyone that comes in, and they like that.

“We had one man who was recently widowed, and he said that the church had helped him to get back on his feet. And he wanted to give something back, and I told him that he didn't have to give anything back; he had become part of our family. It is a very warm atmosphere we have in the store.”

Bardwell said that the store's shifts are broken into half-days, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.. The days are very flexible.

“No one has to work,” Bardwell said.

“They can say that they can volunteer on Mondays for one shift or that they are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or whatever works for them. Saturdays are a really tough day to find people for, which is understandable.

“People like to have their free time and do personal things or spend time with their families. But we are pretty flexible and can work with when people are available.”

After years of talking to volunteers and witnessing their reaction to the work, Bardwell has seen it become less of a job and more of a true joy for many volunteers.

“It is a feeling that many people learn to really enjoy,” she said.

“It is a nice, warm feeling to work with the people that come in the store, and I think it becomes effortless for a lot of volunteers, and they really enjoy the feeling they get from giving a few hours to work in the shop.“

How to help

For more information on volunteering at the St. James' Thrift Shop, contact Edna Bardwell

at 685-5831.