THRIFTY THROUGH CHRIST
The Thrift Shop, in itself, could be defined as a bunch of small shops under one roof. There is a movie section, a book section, an appliance section, and so on. There are clothes for all ages. There is wall art. There are board games. There is an entire furniture wing. But like with any business, the Thrift Shop saw its ups and downs, most notably in the late 1980s, when the store closed before reopening in 1994 and expanding into its current location in 1998. “The expansion into the larger store was so significant that I don’t think there is a comparison from then to now,” Nobby said of the store today. “It opened the door for more things that came into the store as well as expanding the sales, with furniture and appliances. That has been the real boost, in terms of what we offer to the public and getting donations.”
The Orange Lutheran Thrift Shop has evolved into one of the greatest blessings the school has ever known.
In 2014, the store raised $300,000 net, and since 2010, it has raised nearly $2 million for financial aid families. Rose Neben
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T
erniece Gerken has a spot. Her spot doesn’t have a nameplate. It’s not an office with a door. But everyone knows that chair by that table in that backroom, that’s where Berniece sits and does her work.
But its other purpose, that’s to build camaraderie.
Nobby taught and was an administrator at St. John’s Lutheran School from 1959-1979, before coming to teach at Orange Lutheran from 1979-1998. Rose served as the school nurse at St. John’s from 1968-2005. And with the help of financial aid and the Thrift Shop, they put their seven children – Carlene (first freshman class at OLu, ’73), Marc, Nathan, Lisa, Leon, Jason and Amy – through Orange Lutheran.
Berniece is just one of many volunteers. Her task – categorizing donated stuffed animals – is a small one. But at the OLu Thrift Shop, every task is a small piece of a colossal puzzle. It’s been decades since the Thrift Shop came into existence. But with each passing year, the donations get a little greater. The volunteer count creeps a little higher. The money generated for the school increases.
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But it wasn’t necessarily that familial connection that led her to her current position.
Another pair of seasoned volunteers are Eldon “Nobby” Neben, 80, and his wife Rose, 76, both of whom have been volunteering at the Thrift Shop since the early 70s, after it came into existence in 1969.
“It’s been so long. Do you realize how old I am? I’m 90 years old. I can’t remember.”
And as long as those relationships thrive, so will the Thrift Shop, the one that they -- and the entire Lancer family -- have grown to love so much.
Sotelo came on as the Thrift Shop’s first-ever full-time manager in August of 2011. Her stepdaughter graduated from OLu in 1996, so she is familiar with the school.
Berniece isn’t the only seasoned veteran volunteering at the Thrift Shop. While there are workers still enjoying their teenage years, there are some in their 80s, 70s, 60s, and so on.
She can’t remember how long the spot has been hers. In fact, Berniece can’t remember exactly how long she’s been volunteering at the Orange Lutheran Thrift Shop. And she has no problem letting people know why her memory is a bit hazy.
But there are also the relationships that grow each year. The volunteers’ relationships with each other and the team’s relationship with God.
he OLu Thrift Shop has one major purpose, and that is to raise money for need-based financial aid. All Lancer families that receive financial aid are required to complete a set number of volunteer hours at the Thrift Shop.
“The store is a blessing in many ways,” said manager Suzanne Sotelo. “For all of the volunteers, they’re blessed to be able to give back to school. The mission is to help young people learn about Jesus and go to a school where that is the main focus.”
Berniece Gerken
Her spot doesn’t have a nameplate. It’s not an office with a door. But everyone knows that chair by that table in that backroom, that’s where Berniece sits and does her work.
Even more impressive is the fact that in the early days of the Thrift Shop, families that received financial aid were not required to work at the store. Nobby and Rose, they just loved it. “We saw the benefit of a Christian education and if we could in any way continue to help people have that experience, that was and is our motivation,” Nobby said. Nobby and Rose have also seen five grandchildren go through Orange Lutheran with the support of the Thrift Shop. “It’s just got in our blood,” Rose said of the Thrift Shop. “We love serving there. We love the people. It’s a way to give back for the blessings we received. It’s a tangible way to say thank you to the Lord.”
Michele Brown
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