Every Friday, Connie Galvin’s husband of 60 years drives her and her two sisters—Fran Cuccurullo and Ellena DiCicco—to the Lots for Little Shoppe, one of Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus’ (MMCSC) three thrift shops. (The three women live about half a mile apart at Renaissance at Manchester.) Over the past 18 years, the sisters have staffed the shop on Fridays, donating nearly 10,000 hours of their time.
“It makes me proud to see how the thrift shop sales help the Foundation,” says Connie, a former bookkeeper for the Foundation. “The Foundation really gives back to the community.”
The joy of giving back
Connie, who jokingly refers to herself as the “bossy” one and is the youngest of the trio, asked her sisters to volunteer with her at the thrift shop, and they didn’t hesitate. “Monmouth South is here for all of us when we need it most,” she says. All of the women have had positive experiences at the hospital: One received care in the Emergency Department, and another was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or AFib. The MMCSC Foundation is grateful for the sisters’ dedication.
Over the past several years, the thrift shops have provided more than $400,000 in revenue annually. “These volunteers are priceless,” says Denice Gaffney, Vice President of the MMCSC Foundation. “Thanks to the funds raised from the thrift shop sales, we’ve been able to purchase items that expand our services, such as the patient transportation van and the portable blood pressure machine.”
Thrift shop locations
The shops listed below are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Lots for Little Shoppe
Seagull Square Shopping Center 1328 River Ave., Lakewood 732.364.6312
• The Treasure Chest
Lakehurst Circle Shopping Center 666 Route 70, Lakehurst 732.657.2590
• Kimball Closet
Prospect Plaza 255 S. New Prospect Road, Jackson 732.886.5972
Enhancing patient care
With funds raised by volunteers, MMCSC has been able to purchase the following items:
• Transportation van to bring patients to the hospital for their appointments
• Bone density scanning machine for community health screenings
• Portable blood pressure machine and carrying case
• Bariatric stretcher to ensure comfort for patients
To find out how to volunteer at one of MMCSC's thrift shops, visit www.monmouthsouthgiving.org.