More on St. Vincent	Welcome to St. Vincent dePaul's East St. Louis Thrift Store and Cosgrove Kitchen

"The king will say to those on his right: Come. You have my Father's blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you. For I was hungry and you gave me food, . . . naked and you clothed me. . . I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me." - from Matthew 25:34-40.

The St. Vincent de Paul Council of the Diocese of Belleville operates one thrift store, and Cosgrove Kitchen, at 3718 State Street in East St. Louis. Unlike profit-making retail operations, we rely on the public's generous tax-deductible donations of new and gently used goods for our merchandise, food and monetary support. Our need for donations is high, urgent and ongoing - summarized in Wally Spiers 9/9/05 Belleville News-Democrat article.

The Society also operates two mobile food kitchens (converted buses) which serve more than 13,000 meals to the needy each year. Cosgrove's Kitchen serves more than 40,000 noon-time meals annually. On Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the help of many volunteers, holiday meals are served to about 500, both at the Kitchen and as carry-outs.

The store provides a variety of functions aligned with the Society's goal of helping those in need:

• Untold numbers are helped with the store's bargain prices; many items such as clothing, coats, hats, gloves, shoes, and other donated items are priced at one dollar or less.
• Our inventory is always changing, a shopping attraction.
• Our store also helps needy individuals (and those impacted by household disasters like fire and flood) referred by St. Vincent dePaul conferences, churches and social service agencies with free clothing, furniture and food.
• We provide free pickup for donated items from around the metro-east - please, no trash or junk.
• We also deliver large pieces of furniture.
• One added benefit to the community is our employment of eight East St. Louis citizens.