For the past three years, shoppers have crowded the St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shoppe in downtown Marion.

Others have tried and failed at making a store of used items succeed. Not only has this store succeeded, it has flourished.

It began as an idea among hospital auxiliary members. Spark plug Judy Reno believed the volunteers could pull it off.

Reno, who has been active in the hospital auxiliary, attended annual meetings with other auxiliaries around the state and heard stories of successful fund-raising efforts.

“Why not try something like that in Marion?” Reno thought.

A committee was formed and feasibility studied. Yes, this could work in Marion.

A building was located on Main Street, and donations started flooding in.

Before long, the volunteers had raised enough money to purchase fixtures and other necessities for the business.

After three years, about $90,000 has been made available to St. Luke Hospital.

Many volunteers have contributed to the success of this project.

Rosemary Girard is manager of the thrift shop. Evelyn Bredemeier and Joyce Richmond are co-chairmen.

Monday and Tuesday mornings, a handful of faithful volunteers work in the shop to bring in new inventory, rotate seasonal merchandise, and prepare the shop for business Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

Why do they keep coming back?

“It’s fun,” Girard said. “We have a ball.”

More than 50 members of the hospital auxiliary, and some men, have helped at the thrift shop.

“People will come in and ask, ‘How can I volunteer to do this?’” Girard said. “It’s simple. All they have to do is join the hospital auxiliary.”

There is never a shortage of items to be sold. Residents in the area have found the thrift shop to be an outlet for garage sale items that did not sell or they take the items to the shop instead of having a sale.

Clothing, appliances (large and small), knick-knacks, kitchen items, bedding, toys, jewelry, and furniture are among the items donated and sold.

And their customers are as varied as the donations.

Some local people stop in to see what is new on the shelves. Others are there because they cannot afford to shop anywhere else.

“With this economy being the way it is, we’re seeing more people coming here out of necessity,” Girard said.

Victims of fire, foster children, and anyone else in need are offered items for free. Gift certificates are available to Marion Ministerial Alliance in assisting those who are unemployed or without necessities for various reasons.

Whenever there is an event in the area, visitors will frequent the shop and increase business in the downtown district. Shoppers and donors come from as far away as Herington, Newton, and Wichita to bring or buy items.

The shop also has received items from estates.

When items don’t sell and are on shelves for a while, they are taken to homeless shelters and agencies that will distribute to those in need.

“Nothing goes to waste,” Girard said. Some items are given away at the store. An outlet also has been found for used shoes.

So, what is their secret?

“We keep a neat shop,” Girard said, “thanks to our great volunteers.”

The items also are reasonably priced, Reno said.

New items constantly are being donated so inventory is rotated. Western Associates also donate items on a regular basis.

This week, volunteers have the task of taking out winter items and bringing in spring stock. A successful clothing sale depleted much of the winter clothing stock, which will make room for spring and summer clothes.

With a wealth of volunteers making the store run smoothly, plenty of donated items to stock the shelves, and a crowd of customers purchasing items, it should be smooth sailing for the ambitious group. Right?

Well, not exactly.

The building that is being leased by the auxiliary soon will be sold in a sheriff’s tax sale. Different options are being explored but all hope the shop will be able to stay.

“There isn’t a lot of other buildings this size available,” Reno said. “We really want to stay in the downtown district.”

Just like the faith of volunteers and community supporters when this idea first was hatched, the faithful will continue to be hopeful that things will work out and the business will continue.