12 years, 5,000 hours: Volunteer honored for dedication to The PROP Shop

Lana MacCarthy is being recognized for contributing 5,000 hours of service to The PROP Shop Eden Prairie, located at 15195 Martin Drive.

MacCarthy joined the volunteer ranks after retiring. “I wasn’t going to sit at home,” she says. For the past 12 years, she has volunteered at least 12 hours each week. In recognition of her service, she received a certificate from The PROP Shop, a lifetime achievement award from the White House, and a letter from President Biden thanking her.

“The volunteers here are thoughtful and funny,” she says. “I like the sense of belonging, and I love the staff – everyone is so considerate and helpful.” She notes that many of her colleagues have become friends, enjoying lunches and card games outside of work.

MacCarthy discovered The PROP Shop as a customer. As a volunteer, she has worked with donated toys to ensure buyers would be satisfied.

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“I made sure they had all their parts. I cleaned the dolls, did their hair, and made sure they were dressed,” she says. She also priced the toys, using the internet as a guide to see value comparisons. “I tried to price the toys low so it was easy for families to buy them,” she notes. “Every child deserves to have a nice toy.”

MacCarthy was able to bring some of her work home. “I’d rather play with toys than sweep the floor,” she says with a smile. She also prices jewelry at home. “My husband says it’s PROP Shop Jr. at home.”

MacCarthy is one of about 400 active volunteers at The PROP Shop.

“We’ve had more than 3,900 volunteers since Cindy Eddy first founded The PROP Shop in her garage over 17 years ago,” says Vicki Bomben, the shop’s operations manager. “The oldest was 98; the youngest was 12.”

The average volunteer shift is two or 2 1/2 hours. “To anyone considering volunteering here, I’d say, ‘Come in and try it for a couple of hours,’” MacCarthy suggests. “It’s very enjoyable.”

The store relies entirely on donations from the community. It’s not unusual to have 30 to 50 cars arrive every hour during the busiest times. “It’s always busy when people do their spring cleaning,” Bomben says. Donation hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Volunteers unpack the donations and decide what to keep or pass on to other charities. They also price items and keep the store stocked. Inventory is rotated about every six weeks to keep the selection fresh. Unsold items are given to families in need or to other non-profit organizations.

Customers of the retail store vary widely. “We have bargain hunters, house stagers, those who like finding treasures, or people who like to stop by simply because they enjoy talking to our staff,” Bomben says. “You can get some really nice things in our shop. Some are gently used, and others still have their original tags on them.” Designer labels can frequently be found.

Funds from the retail store support the shop’s free store. The free store is in a private area, open by appointment. Clients are referred by social service agencies, schools or city personnel. Only one individual or family is allowed in the store at a time to ensure privacy.

“We use the money generated by the retail store to purchase household necessities like mattresses, pots and pans and bed linens,” Bomben explains. She notes that the amount of furniture needed has skyrocketed. In addition, kitchen items, winter boots and children’s clothing are in high demand.

For more information, call The PROP Shop at 952-934-2323.