Hi from Cora!

Cora---

My name is Cora G and this is my second YNIA trip. I am a part of the group working at a St. Vincent De Paul’s warehouse. Back home Salvation Armies are much more common to see, but out here the equivalent is St. Vincent De Paul’s. Their goal is to reduce the waste in our environment through repurposing and reusing. Literally, you will not find a single trash can in that building no matter how hard you try. They are very passionate about finding a purpose for everything and everything gets recycled sooner or later. No matter how beat up something looks, a greater purpose can be found for everything. Here in the store, you can find anything under the sun for fair prices that give those less fortunate a chance to get their necessities like clothing, but also secondary items like toys for their children. Other décor and miscellaneous entertainment products can be found here as well to help people create a much more home-y environment in their situation. It’s almost like a sense of security. Like their house is permanent in a tough situation. Products from all over are collected and stored in the warehouse to be refurbished and then sold in the store, or shipped off to be recycled or brought to other nearby stores. Our job is to organize the products that come in, determine whether it should be recycled or not, and put them on racks to be sold if so. It’s so rewarding to see people walking around the store and purchasing the things you helped price and place out there. From a distance, see the difference you’re making in these people’s lives. I can’t wait to do more.