ST. GEORGE — The Catholic Thrift Store continues celebrating 35 years of service with a charity auction at the St.George Catholic Church on April 1.

The charity auction will be held in Kuzy Hall in St. George, a charity event that has involved hundreds of hours in the making, Catholic Thrift Store Volunteer Barbara Harrison said.

The viewing and silent auction will begin immediately after the doors open at 5 p.m., with a live auction starting at 7 p.m., featuring professional auctioneer Price Nelson, Harrison said.

Musical instruments, artwork, vintage collectibles and even Harley motorcycle leathers will be featured, as well as a locking gun case, Native American designs, and hundreds of other items in every price range are being presented for the event.

Many of the auction items can be viewed online at: www.catholicthriftstore.com, and on Facebook Thrifty St. George.

Proceeds from the auction, in addition to other charity events and sales from the thrift store, are used throughout the community to provide food and clothing to those in need, Diane Cellini, a long-time Catholic Thrift Store volunteer said.

Among others, the store gives support to the Hopi Indians; Hope Pregnancy Care Center, which offers support to men and women facing crisis and unplanned pregnancies; the Dove Center, which offers safe-shelter, crisis intervention, and prevention for people who have been victimized by violence in their home; Utah Angel Gowns, which makes burial clothing for infants who are either still-born or never leave the hospital after birth; and other charity organizations throughout the county.

As well, typically more than $200,000 is donated annually to the Saint George Catholic Parish building fund.

The Catholic Thrift Store opened its doors as a nonprofit organization on St. Patrick’s Day in 1981 when there were less than 100 Catholic families living in Washington County, volunteer Angie Mittleberger said.

Mittleberger is the last surviving thrift store founder and an original Catholic Women’s Group member.

The concept was developed when four women who previously held garage and bake sales out of each other’s backyards to raise money for the church decided to combine their efforts and items into one location – thus the Catholic Thrift Store was opened.

Thirty five years later the thrift store is still in operation, growing from five volunteers in 1981 to more than 180 volunteers in 2016, many of whom have volunteered at the store for decades, Diane Cellini, a longtime Catholic Thrift Store volunteer said.

Tickets for the April 1st auction are available at the Catholic Thrift Store for a suggested donation of $15 per ticket, which covers hors d’oeuvres, desserts, soft drinks and admittance into both the silent and live auction events.

Event details

• What: Catholic Thrift Store’s silent and live auctions
• When: Friday, April 1, 5 p.m.
• Where: Kuzy Hall, St. George Catholic Church, 259 West 200 North., St. George.
• Admission: Suggested donation of $15, tickets available at the Catholic Thrift Store, 157 North 200 West, St George | Telephone 435-673-0849
• Contacts: Diane Cellini or Jackie Rickman, 435-673-1029
• View:  auction items | Facebook Thrifty St. George

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