www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 32, No. 12 october 22, 2010
Team ®
TurnStyles team looks for hidden treasure amid thousands of donations
H
Story and photos By Jill Ragar Esfeld
oly Spirit, Overland Park, parishioner Tom White is a stalker. But not to worry. As a volunteer at TurnStyles, the thrift store of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas in Overland Park, he’s supposed to be on the hunt for donated items that prove the old adage: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” As a member of its elite eBay team, in fact, he’s been trained to recycle that donated “trash” into the “treasure” that will keep Catholic Charities programs rolling — with a little help from cyberspace shoppers. Not too long ago, for example, White’s eyes Be a part kept falling on an odd of the team piece of office equipWould you like ment in the furniture to learn how to section of the thrift sell items on eBay? store. TurnStyles, the “It looked like an thrift store benefitold adding machine or ing Catholic Charisomething,” he said. ties of Northeast “They had $3 marked Kansas, needs on it.” volunteers willing The $3 item sat on to give four hours display for a couple per week to list/ of weeks, but nobody sell items on eBay. bought it. No experience is Finally, White’s curequired except the riosity got the best of ability to keystroke. him. Come and learn “I thought, ‘I’ll see how to eBay by what this thing is,’” he contacting Mary said. “I went to the InKay Drees at (914) ternet and checked it 433-2080 or by out.” e-mail at: mdrees@ White was shocked catholiccharitiesks. at what he found. org. The old adding machine was actually one of the first Hollerith punch card machines, built under contract for the U.S. Census Bureau to calculate the 1890 census. Jackpot! White posted the item online at the TurnStyles eBay store. It was purchased by a California museum for $300. “I’ve had higher sales,” White confessed. “But that was the most satisfying because I salvaged a piece of history.” Turn to “thrift store” on page 16
Church of the Nativity, Overland Park, parishioner, Pat Urnise (left) listens as team leader Ronald Behm discusses product placement on the TurnStyles eBay site. Members work in teams of three on one afternoon each week.
St. Joseph, Shawnee, parishioner Dennis Koozeniewski (left), a TurnStyles thrift store volunteer, gets a quick lesson in identifying valuable dishware from eBay team leader Ronald Behm.