Although it has been open only nine months, the thrift store and Ventura District office of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Oxnard is thriving at its new Saviers Road location.

Recent rains have kept many of those who shop in the thrift store away, either because money is tight or because they lack transportation. But even with the slowdown, there is a steady stream of people perusing merchandise in the 17,000-square-foot store, prominently visible from the street.

Donations - especially of merchandise - from local parishes have been steady, even in a recession plagued economy. The eight-person paid staff at the Oxnard location manages and stocks the store, with several workers spending their days sorting through mounds of clothing and then setting the clothing out according to size on the long racks in the store.

Much of the merchandise is collected on "bundle Sundays" in local parishes, but an equally large amount of merchandise is delivered directly to the site. Pick-up can often be arranged for large items such as furniture.

"People are very generous," says Dan Sciacia, Ventura District president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. "But we can always use donations of money and we welcome more volunteers - there is always more work than we can handle."

And in these tough times, there is often more need than can be handled.

"There is lots of demand for monetary assistance with housing, food and electric bills," explains George Johnson, parishioner at Santa Clara Church in Oxnard and president of Santa Clara's SVDP conference. "We don't want to say 'no' to anyone in need," he says, adding that referrals come from all the Catholic parishes in the area.

Sciacia, a parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen in Camarillo, and Johnson are volunteers who spend many hours managing and coordinating business at the Ventura District office, carved out of the back corner of the Oxnard store. There they conduct quarterly meetings for conference presidents in addition to providing workshops and materials for each conference.

Sciacia believes in enabling those in need to improve their lives and is grateful for the opportunity to offer opportunities through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Prior to the opening of the Saviers Road location, Sciacia operated the now closed St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in El Rio (between Oxnard and Camarillo north of Highway 101). Among the employees in El Rio was a young disabled man who was an especially dedicated worker, and his family. When the move to Saviers Road took place last spring, Sciacia insisted that the entire family come and work in the new location, rewarding their loyalty and dedication.

The new, well stocked store is centrally located in Oxnard and will provide assistance to a wide area of the region. Store manager Angela Smith greets shoppers with a smile and reminds them, "If you don't find what you need, just ask."