June 14, 2007

Many hands make light work

Unicorn Thrift Shop installs new officers; accepts kudos for volunteers who benefit children in need

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

The Unicorn Thrift Shop has always been a magical place, not only because of the treasures available to thrifty customers, but foremost for the money donated to benefit Eastfield Ming Quong [EMQ] Children and Family Services.

The 2007-2008 Unicorn Thrift Shop officers receive flowers. Left: First Vice President Jan Curry, Second Vice President Sharon Coburn, Treasurer Julia Starling, Membership Treasurer Jan Miller, Parliamentarian Grace Longinotti and President Marilyn Wright. Not pictured: Secretary Nancy Drodvillo. Photo by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Just as magical are the dedicated volunteers who donate their time and energy to create the thrift shop on Redmond Avenue. And that was evident as new officers were installed at the organization’s recent annual luncheon held at Almaden Valley’s Joint Venture Church.

“You ladies are so innovative, so creative,” said EMQ Vice President of Fund Development Scott Staub who accepted a $60,000 check from the Unicorn Thrift Shop representing their fund-raising effort for their semi-annual contribution. “It goes beyond the dollars you raise. My colleagues are so envious that they don’t have volunteers like you. Thank you so much for this very generous check. Your dollars make a huge difference.”

EMQ
EMQ Children and Family Services offers family-centered programs that help children recover from severe depression, thoughts of suicide, or drug abuse and keep families together. The private nonprofit annually helps almost 7,000 children and their family members every year.

The organization is headquartered in Campbell and offers an integrated network of services in Santa Clara, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Their foster family agency provides temporary homes in 20 California counties.

EMQ’s mission is to work with children and their families to transform their lives, build emotional, social, and familial well being and to transform the systems that serve them.

Staub also announced a new EMQ program—Wings for Foster Youth. At age 18, youth are “aged out” of the foster care system with no home, medical or food. A year later, half of them are pregnant [the girls], homeless or in jail. And only 3 percent will attend college. Wings for Foster Youth will provide transitional housing, skills for job interviews, and ultimately to help them attend vocational school or college.

The Unicorn Thrift Shop
The Almaden League of EMQ operates the Unicorn Thrift Shop with over 65 volunteer members who stock, collect and sell gently used items of clothes, books and household wares. It has tripled its square footage since opening its doors in 1993 while maintaining the successful retail outlet. The volunteers have recently implemented eBay sales as well as soliciting estate sale items. Last year, they reached a pinnacle with a million dollars donated to EMQ since the Unicorn‘s inception.

“Thank you so much for this very generous check. Your dollars make a huge difference,” said EMQ Children and Family Services Vice President of Fund Development Scott Staub as he accepted a $60,000 check representing the Unicorn Thrift Shop’s semi-annual contribution. From left: Staub and outgoing President Grace Longinotti.

“I joined in the beginning,” said Unicorn outgoing President Grace Longinotti. “We built up a small store, a following and enlarged twice because we were bursting at the seams. It’s a great cause and we have a lot of fun.”

EMQ’s Unicorn Thrift Shop is operated totally by volunteers, some volunteer for only four hours a month, others for many more hours, and then there are others who go on to become officers. Member Sharon Coburn says, “it all helps, no matter how little time you can volunteer.”

Kiran Kumer joined the Unicorn Thrift Store two years ago while she was looking to find something to do to help kids after she retired from GE.

“I went to drop off some items and decided to help,” said Kumer who has lived in Almaden 27 years. “It’s fun and interesting to meet people and you make a lot of new friends. And it’s a good place to shop!”

Linda Ceitner concurs.

“I didn’t’ know it was there,” said Ceitner who also joined two years ago. “It’s a great place with a lot of nice people. But the best thing is the end result—the money goes to help the kids. It’s worth all the work.”

Ceitner looks forward every year to the Easter party for the children under EMQ’s programs and always wears rabbit ears much to their delight. The kids also color Easter eggs and receive baskets at the party.

New officers
Longinotti announced the new officers for 2007—2008: President Marilyn Wright, First Vice President Jan Curry, Second Vice President Sharon Coburn, Treasurer Julia Starling, Membership Treasurer Jan Miller and Secretary Nancy Drodvillo. Longinotti will serve as parliamentarian.

Passing the gavel to the new president brings laughter between the two good friends. Left: Incoming President Marilyn Wright and outgoing President Grace Longinotti. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“Marilyn is going to be a wonderful president,” said Longinotti as she passed the gavel to Wright. “She was my right hand this last year. She does things before they need to be done.”

Wright has been a member of the Unicorn Thrift Shop for six and a half years but she brings with her a plethora of experience. The native Californian is a past president of the junior auxiliary for the Crippled Children’s Society of Santa Clara County, worked on Daffodil Days for the Santa Clara Cancer Society and worked many summers with the American Red Cross as aquatics director coordinator for the San Mateo County Swim Program. Since joining EMQ Unicorn Thrift Shop she has served on the board the entire time as secretary, first vice president and second president besides retailing at the Unicorn.

Wright retired from teaching at Graystone Elementary School. She and husband Douglas Wright raised their three children, Bob, Lyn, and Lisa, and are the happy grandparents of three granddaughters.

“It’s such a big step and I’m following some wonderful presidents,” said Wright. “We’ve been very lucky in our lives and I want to give back to the community. We hope the public will continue to support us through donations and by being our wonderful customers. If any of you have any extra time during each month we would encourage you to become part of our organization and volunteer your time.”

The Unicorn Thrift Shop is located at 1181 Redmond Avenue, [cross street Almaden Expressway], San Jose. There will be a recruiting luncheon scheduled June 27. Call (408) 997-9188 for more information.