Lord of the Lakes thrift store honored
Winneconne, WI – An air of gaiety prevailed at the Lord of the Lakes Thrift & Gift shop in downtown Winneconne Wednesday morning.
A half dozen volunteers in matching turquoise T-shirts met at the shop to get a little work done and bask in the afterglow of an award bestowed in May by ADVOCAP for the thrift shop’s service to low-income people in the Winneconne area.
Lord of the Lakes Thrift & Gift Shop received the Winnebago County service award of the year from the agency that helps people pull themselves out of poverty by helping prepare them for jobs and to start businesses.
“That shop is one of those grass roots places that make things happen for folks and they don’t get a lot of kudos for it.,” said Michael Bonertz, ADVOCAP executive director.
One of the things the shop provides is good used clothing suitable for wearing to job interviews, said Gail Johnson, one of the shop’s four co-directors. A group of about 30 volunteers keep the shop at 208 W. Main St. going. They gather regularly to sort donations of clothing, jewelry, house wares, antiques and collectibles, and the toys, games and books that they sell in the shop.
If Wednesday was an indication of what goes on there, it’s obvious these people enjoy their work. They all pitch in to get it done.
“We call ourselves Team Thrift,” said Tammy Wright, another of the four co-directors.
