On March 17th, Michele Canto, Director of Community Ministries at St. Joseph Hospital, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding, Grey Nuns Thrift Shop. Michele works at St. Joseph hospital and runs the Grey Nuns Thrift Shop with half paid staff and half volunteers.
The thrift store is governed under the hospitals 403b umbrella and partners with local nonprofits such as The Front Door, Marguerite's Place and the Nashua Soup Kitchen. They have a voucher program that can be used by benefactors of local non-profits to acquire clothing and tents.
There’s currently a need for men’s clothing and tents/sleeping bags. The number of people they service has doubled in the past year and the numbers are continuing to follow that trend.
The Mobile health clinic partners with Grey Nuns to provide healthcare once monthly outside the thrift shop. The barber store next store is getting involved as well moving forward to offer free cuts.
Jack Tulley started a collection to buy tents and had raised over $500. Michelle mentioned a client was checking in daily for a tent and Jack discovered they are $40 each to purchase new.