Scavenger Hunt Victories!I went on a Scavenger Hunt today. Really, I was looking for inexpensive furniture that is still in good shape to furnish the San Antonio service house. Specifically, I was looking for a sofa, a table with six chairs, a dryer, three desks, a television, and an armoir (maybe). (We had solved the Mystery of the Missing Refrigerator by this point.)
So the plan of action was that I would check out some thrift stores and, if need be, the Giant Retailer of Cheap Crap Who Shall Not Be Named (because I despise shopping there... for many sound and additionally not-so-sound reasons.) When I found each item, I was to text message one of the principals, who was taking care of purchase and transportation for the Archdiocese. Said principal was at a beginning of the year principal shindig, and she would come for purchase and pick up as soon as she was able.
Sidebar: We were really concerned about being able to locate this furniture before all the teachers arrived, and still staying within our budget. Nothing quite says, "Welcome to our city!" like coming to a house without furniture. We were especially worried about tracking down a dryer and a sofa for a decent price.
After meeting one of the teacher's at the house to distribute keys, I set out on my adventure. My first stop was a thrift store fairly close to where the principals were having their pre-year meeting. I found the location easily, grabbed my notepad and cell phone, and strolled into the store. There was a sign marking the furniture section. Easy enough.
I found a sofa. It was green/red/cream plaid. The chairs are green, so this wouldn't be terrible. The tag was marked $199.99 "As Is." The "As Is" made me nervous. What was wrong with it? I pushed on the frame, smooshed the cushions, and searched for tears. Nothing. The only thing wrong with this sofa is that it was... well... dirty. But the price would keep us on track with our budget.
I texted Principal, letting her know that I had located a sofa. I told her the price, and explained the condition, noting that we could try to clean it, or we could just get a slipcover. After sending her a photo message, she said to try to find a cover for it. We'd take it. Sofa: Check.
After leaving the store, Principal sent me another message, asking if there was a table and chairs that would work. I responded that there was one set that had four chairs for $199, but I wanted to see what the other store had before making that call; I was on my way to St. Vincent de Paul.
Sidebar: When I went to Detroit with a group from Cincinnati to do Young Neighbors in Action, my service site was a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. The store manager at that site was meticulous about what went on her floor. Having worked for a week in the store, I recognized how much work went into running the thrift store, and how that work was truly a labor of love. I really, really, really, really, wanted to support another Catholic organization, especially SVdP, but I knew that I had to put the budget before my heart.
SVdP in San Antonio is not easy to find, and even harder to get in the parking lot. It is essentially the only thing in between two busy cross streets on a four lane street, right next to I-10. I walked into the store, and realized immediately that it was substantially smaller than the store where we had done our service in Detroit. I walked the aisle between dining tables and a row of televisions, disappointed to not see a table with more than four chairs. I turned to head out of the store, when I saw a "room tableau" (as they were called in Detroit), with a nice sofa, loveseat and chair. Surely, I thought, this is too much. The whole set was $275. For $75 more, we would get two additional pieces of furniture -- and this was nicer stuff than what was at the other store! I immediately sent a text message to Principal. Abort mission to other store; go directly to St. Vincent de Paul, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Wait. Collect $200 if someone is giving it out. The school could definitely use it.
After texting and then calling Principal to make arrangements (and deciding to just take one of the tables with four chairs...), I call Boss to tell her our good fortune. St. Vincent is smiling on us, I say. I flip the phone shut, satisfied and excited with the Furniture Find of the Year just in time to see a new table being placed on the floor... and SIX chairs are on the dolly!
I walked over to the store manager, who was supervising the set up, and announced that I wanted to purchase the table with six chairs, and I would also take the living room set. Her eyes lit up. "Really!?" Obviously, this store needed some sales, and this sale would make their day. We chatted briefly about the teacher-service program, I explained that I was waiting on a truck, and the truck would also bring the person with the check. She was thrilled to be helping out an organization that worked with Catholic schools. While I was waiting, she brought me a soda and some cookies.
When Principal arrived in her truck, I met her outside, and walked in with her. "Hey!" she exclaimed, warmly greeting the store manager. "This is my truck driver!" I explained. The store manager, who had demonstrated such hospitality and gratitude for the purchase, is a parent of one of the students at Principal's school. A school where one of our teachers serves. One of our teachers, who will come home to a comfortable house, because of the great service provided by St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. A service made possible by the intense efforts of store managers like this parent.
Indeed, St. Vincent was smiling on us. God does really awesome things. Sometimes we get to see those sacred interactions first hand, and that is truly awesome.
So the plan of action was that I would check out some thrift stores and, if need be, the Giant Retailer of Cheap Crap Who Shall Not Be Named (because I despise shopping there... for many sound and additionally not-so-sound reasons.) When I found each item, I was to text message one of the principals, who was taking care of purchase and transportation for the Archdiocese. Said principal was at a beginning of the year principal shindig, and she would come for purchase and pick up as soon as she was able.
Sidebar: We were really concerned about being able to locate this furniture before all the teachers arrived, and still staying within our budget. Nothing quite says, "Welcome to our city!" like coming to a house without furniture. We were especially worried about tracking down a dryer and a sofa for a decent price.
After meeting one of the teacher's at the house to distribute keys, I set out on my adventure. My first stop was a thrift store fairly close to where the principals were having their pre-year meeting. I found the location easily, grabbed my notepad and cell phone, and strolled into the store. There was a sign marking the furniture section. Easy enough.
I found a sofa. It was green/red/cream plaid. The chairs are green, so this wouldn't be terrible. The tag was marked $199.99 "As Is." The "As Is" made me nervous. What was wrong with it? I pushed on the frame, smooshed the cushions, and searched for tears. Nothing. The only thing wrong with this sofa is that it was... well... dirty. But the price would keep us on track with our budget.
I texted Principal, letting her know that I had located a sofa. I told her the price, and explained the condition, noting that we could try to clean it, or we could just get a slipcover. After sending her a photo message, she said to try to find a cover for it. We'd take it. Sofa: Check.
After leaving the store, Principal sent me another message, asking if there was a table and chairs that would work. I responded that there was one set that had four chairs for $199, but I wanted to see what the other store had before making that call; I was on my way to St. Vincent de Paul.
Sidebar: When I went to Detroit with a group from Cincinnati to do Young Neighbors in Action, my service site was a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. The store manager at that site was meticulous about what went on her floor. Having worked for a week in the store, I recognized how much work went into running the thrift store, and how that work was truly a labor of love. I really, really, really, really, wanted to support another Catholic organization, especially SVdP, but I knew that I had to put the budget before my heart.
SVdP in San Antonio is not easy to find, and even harder to get in the parking lot. It is essentially the only thing in between two busy cross streets on a four lane street, right next to I-10. I walked into the store, and realized immediately that it was substantially smaller than the store where we had done our service in Detroit. I walked the aisle between dining tables and a row of televisions, disappointed to not see a table with more than four chairs. I turned to head out of the store, when I saw a "room tableau" (as they were called in Detroit), with a nice sofa, loveseat and chair. Surely, I thought, this is too much. The whole set was $275. For $75 more, we would get two additional pieces of furniture -- and this was nicer stuff than what was at the other store! I immediately sent a text message to Principal. Abort mission to other store; go directly to St. Vincent de Paul, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Wait. Collect $200 if someone is giving it out. The school could definitely use it.
After texting and then calling Principal to make arrangements (and deciding to just take one of the tables with four chairs...), I call Boss to tell her our good fortune. St. Vincent is smiling on us, I say. I flip the phone shut, satisfied and excited with the Furniture Find of the Year just in time to see a new table being placed on the floor... and SIX chairs are on the dolly!
I walked over to the store manager, who was supervising the set up, and announced that I wanted to purchase the table with six chairs, and I would also take the living room set. Her eyes lit up. "Really!?" Obviously, this store needed some sales, and this sale would make their day. We chatted briefly about the teacher-service program, I explained that I was waiting on a truck, and the truck would also bring the person with the check. She was thrilled to be helping out an organization that worked with Catholic schools. While I was waiting, she brought me a soda and some cookies.
When Principal arrived in her truck, I met her outside, and walked in with her. "Hey!" she exclaimed, warmly greeting the store manager. "This is my truck driver!" I explained. The store manager, who had demonstrated such hospitality and gratitude for the purchase, is a parent of one of the students at Principal's school. A school where one of our teachers serves. One of our teachers, who will come home to a comfortable house, because of the great service provided by St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. A service made possible by the intense efforts of store managers like this parent.
Indeed, St. Vincent was smiling on us. God does really awesome things. Sometimes we get to see those sacred interactions first hand, and that is truly awesome.
