New 2 You Thrift Store, run by volunteers, stocked for Christmas

By Matt LaBarre | Special to the CFP

Whether you are shopping now for Christmas gifts, or anytime during the year for bargains, the “New 2 You” thrift store, organized and run by volunteers at St. Joseph-St. Pius X Parish in Leicester should be on your list of places to go.

The store is well organized, yet packed with gently used as well as brand new merchandise, from clothing to toys to Christmas and holiday décor to kitchenware to furniture and more.
Thrift store volunteer director Donna Jyringi attributes the store’s success to “a great team of volunteers.”  

“We’ve organized the store into departments such as our clothing department or household goods department for example, which creates a nice flow to the store, and makes it easier to locate items shoppers might be looking for,” Ms. Jyringi said. “Keeping the store very clean as well as organized is very important to all of us who volunteer.”

Thrift store proceeds support parish programs, and are used to assist individuals and families in Leicester who are dealing with a crisis, such as a house fire or other catastrophic event or situation.  

“Prices are amazing!” Lue Willis, who also volunteers at the store exclaimed.

The volunteers who staff the store are friendly and approachable. “All of us who volunteer here feel like the store is truly our store, and we have a lot of pride in how we run and maintain the store.” Ms. Willis said.  

“We carry many new items that would make terrific Christmas gifts,” Ms. Jyringi said. “We’re constantly adding items during the busy Christmas season, and throughout the year.”

The store does a very brisk business this time of year. “People do come here to shop from communities all around Leicester and Central Massachusetts, primarily through hearing about our prices from their friends and neighbors,” Ms. Jyringi continued.

Volunteers are the backbone of the New 2 You Thrift Store, and while the store is blessed with many volunteers, they invite anyone who may be interested in having fun while helping people in the community to consider visiting the store and talking with Ms. Jyringi or any of the volunteer staff members.  

“We’re always looking for donations of gently used items, particularly clothing,” said Ms. Jyringi. In addition, we sometimes go out and pick up donated furniture in our truck and could certainly use volunteers who are physically strong enough to help with that effort.”

The New 2 You Thrift Store is located at 759 Main St., in the rear of the St. Joseph School building, in Leicester, and is open Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m. to noon; Thursdays 2-5 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The driveway up a small hill to the school and parking lot is well marked.  

“If you come do some of your Christmas shopping here, I think you will become a regular customer!” said Ms. Jyringi.