By Chris Spangler
The ribbon has been cut, officially opening the St. Vincent de Paul Building Materials Division in Fort Atkinson.
Located in the former Cornerstone of Hope building at 1525 Summit Drive on the city’s south side, the store adjacent to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is selling and accepting donations of gently used and surplus building furnishings.
Both St. Vincent stores are holding a sale through Saturday, Jan. 29, with 50% off of everything except lightbulbs, mattresses, box springs and frames. Christmas items are 75% off the regular price, and there always is a 15% discount for veterans.
Shoppers may enter a free drawing to win a gift certificate of $100, $50 or $25.
In addition, the thrift store’s monthly bag sale is under way. Shoppers may buy all of the clothing and other select items that fit in a paper grocery sack for $7.50.
The Building Materials Center began as the Habitat for Humanity Restore in March of 2010 and then changed to the Cornerstone of Hope Home Supply Outlet two or three years later. In 2017, it underwent an expansion that tripled its size.
However, the Janesville-based Christian organization closed its Fort Atkinson outlet on Sept. 20, 2021, with no prior notification.
That provided an opportunity for the St. Vincent de Paul Society to expand its service to the community by taking over the 4,500-square-foot building materials outlet next door.
St. Vincent de Paul assumed ownership on Oct. 17, 2021.
Hours of the Building Materials Division are: Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hours for the thrift store are: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Building Materials Division has retained the Cornerstone of Hope telephone number of 920-568-9345. The thrift store number is 920-568-1266.
Rick Bleecker has stayed on as store manager, with Carrie Smith named general manager of both the Building Materials Division and St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, which was founded in 2007.
In addition, all of 14 regular volunteers, as well as some seasonal ones, stayed on.
Meanwhile, the St. Vincent de Paul Store remains in great need of volunteers. Hours are flexible. Interested persons may call St. Vincent de Paul Society President Bill Roberts at 920-563-5343.
St. Vincent de Paul Society Board members Mary Carpenter and Kim Schroedl, from left, Fort Atkinson City Council member Mason Becker, St. Vincent de Paul Society Board member Clair Urbain, general manager of both the St. Vincent de Paul Building Materials Division and St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Carrie Smith, building materials division store manager Rick Bleecker, St. Vincent de Paul Society Board President Bill Roberts, the Rev. Timothy Renz of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, and Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Associate Director Anna Jensen hold the ribbon Wednesday in celebration of the grand opening of the St. Vincent de Paul Building Materials Division. Contributed photo.
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Thanks for the coverage! The two first volunteers mentioned are actually SVdP board members, Mary Carpenter and Kim Schroedl.
Thank you! Will update the copy.