Volunteers honored for thrift-store help to All Saints School

BANGOR – Dozens of volunteers for The Attic were honored recently at a special breakfast.

The thrift store at 170 Center St., which has served the community for more than 20 years, benefits All Saints School.

In 1981, at a St. John’s School Parent-Teacher Organization meeting, Marguerita Sullivan suggested the idea for the store. The Rev. Raymond Bertrand, who was pastor of St. John’s Church, appointed a committee to pursue Sullivan’s suggestion. The committee determined there was a need for the store, and Sullivan became the first president of The Attic’s board of directors.

The Attic’s mission was to provide affordable, donated merchandise to members of the community who needed the items. Proceeds were designated for St. John’s School, and the store provided an opportunity for parish members to volunteer for a worthwhile cause.

In September 2000, St. John’s School and St. Mary’s School merged to form All Saints Catholic School. As a result, proceeds from The Attic are targeted for All Saints Catholic School. No money is retained for either St. John’s or St. Mary’s parish.

Pilar Thibodeau and Roberta Lynch manage The Attic. Thibodeau was a member of the first board of directors, and Lynch has been associated with the store for 13 years.

More than 70 volunteers staff The Attic five days a week. Many are retired or widowed and benefit socially from the interaction with one other and with The Attic customers. Some donate time in addition to holding regular jobs.

Each spring, the school community honors The Attic volunteers at a banquet. Students show their appreciation by making cards and placemats for the volunteers, and by waiting on tables at the banquet.

Earlier this year, a special prayer service and breakfast was held in honor of The Attic’s 20th anniversary. All Saints pupils presented volunteers with cards and personalized aprons. Marguerita Sullivan commended volunteers for continuing her dream.

Honored for their volunteer work at The Attic were:

Roland Andrews, Dot Andrews, Viola Arel, Jules Arel, Linda Arsenault, Priscilla Benoit, Todd Berry, Patty Burke, Tina Campbell, Connie Caron, Alex Clifford, Karen Cronan, Jean Curley, Maryann Devoe, Bob Duddy, Celia Duddy, Barbara Dufour, Bunnie Farris, Bill Ford, Rosemary Ford, Jim Gallagher, Tina Giles, Sheila Graham, Natalie Grindle.

Carol Guptill, Jeanne Hannan, Mary Hart, Elaine Higgins, Valerie Higgins, Richard Higgins, Florence “Babe” Hopkins, Mary Huskins, Mary Ismail, Elaine Kotredes, Bob Laffey, Rosemary Landry, Mary Lausier, Dawn Mahar, Jim Mahon, Carolyn Mahon, Kevin Mahon, Jeanne McBurnie, Bud McDonough, Phyllis McDonough, Vivian McKenna, Gloria McLellan, Teresa McNeil, Ralph Mishou, Joan Mostler, Shirley Mishou.

Teresa Mooney, Helen Moran, Paul Nelligan, Joe O’Brien, Mary Parker, Margaret Paschal, Mary Perry, Joe Perry, Mary Ellen Perry, Diane Roderick, Isobel Russell, Eleanor Ryder, Joanne Saindon, Andrew Scott, Paul Shannon, Alice Shannon, Joan Shaw, Gene Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Jackie Sivik.

Connie Soucy, Mary Soucy, Anna Stetson, Norman Stetson, Mary Sullivan, Norma Sullivan, Adriana Teolis, Lionel Theriault, Louise Towle, Marion Walsh, Joan Winstead, Jeannette Withington, Francine Wicks.

The Attic is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday. Closed weekends. Donated items must be clean and in working order.