By Anne Marie Amacher
DAVENPORT — When the Catholic Service Board late last year purchased the building it has been located in since 2004, the volunteers at Cinderella’s Cellar were able to expand into the rest of the building and offer more space for items to be sold and to store items brought in year-round.
Catholic Service Board operates Cinderella’s Cellar, a resale shop that benefits the Kahl Home for the Aged and Infirm in Davenport. The board also offers bingo at the Kahl Home and operates a cart for residents at the home in addition to other projects to support the nursing home.
Carol Harrison, one of four co-chairs for the board, said Cinderella’s Cellar began in 1975 in the basement of St. Vincent Center with 26 women. The main goal was to help the Kahl Home and its residents.
They stayed at that site until 2004 when they moved to the current location. That site was shared with other businesses until they bought the building and moved into the open areas.
“Today we are over 100 members strong,” Harrison said.
Debbie Cassel, president of Catholic Service Board, said Cinderella’s Cellar will host a Christmas Open House that is much larger than before due to the extra space. The open house will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 29. That is open later than their usual Saturday hours, she noted.
Items include holiday decorations, ornaments, Christmas trees decorated and plain, furnishings, household items, wreaths, outdoor lighting and more.
Right now one room is totally dedicated for Christmas items. For the open house, Cassel said, items will be expanded throughout various rooms. Non-Christmas items will still be available.
With the purchase of the building, Cinderella’s Cellar now has a furniture room, Christmas room and a “designer” room in addition to the room the shop has always had. They have much needed storage for items to collect year-round, a crafts area for members to make or enhance items that come in, and a work room.
Throughout the year there are fall/winter changeovers, spring/summer changeovers with additional bag sales and half price sales, Harrison said.
If donated items are not usable for Cinderella’s Cellar, they are passed on to other organizations in the community. “Nothing goes to waste.”
Cinderella’s Cellar is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is located at 230 W. 35th St.
