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THE KING OF THRIFT.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

Out of the gloom of the economic recession that hit Lane County in the early 1980s, came the spark that would transform St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County from a small, traditional thrift store operation into a dynamic, charitable powerhouse.

Wood products mills were closing left and right, recalled Terry McDonald, who was named executive director in 1984 following the death of his father, Harold "Mac" McDonald, the agency's previous director.

Well-paid, blue-collar workers were losing their jobs and homes. Former supporters of St. Vincent's programs were becoming users of its services, McDonald said.

"It's hard on organizations like this one that are supposed to help people, when (the organizations) have no money," he said.

That's when the board of directors decided, McDonald said, that if St. Vincent was truly going to help people, it would have to start making some money.

What followed was a collection of revenue-generating recycling ventures: workshops to repair appliances and build furniture out of scrap wood, a facility to break down and refurbish old mattresses, and a glass foundry that creates architectural supplies, awards and gift items from bottles and window glass.

Today, those ventures - and the agency's eight retail thrift stores and used car lot - account for half of the organization's $12 million in annual revenues. The other half comes from grants, contracts...

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