Every week, The Post-Journal runs an item in its “Briefly” column with hours for St. Luke’s Thrift Shop.

We’ve been running the item for years – and evidently readers and the rest of the community have taken notice. Not only does the shop offer low-cost items to those who need them, it’s sprinkling the proceeds from the shop’s cash box into the community.

Last week, the thrift shop board announced $20,000 in allocations to organizations that include the Hope Haven Women’s Homeless Shelter, YWCA’s Legacy House, UCAN City Mission, the New Neighbors Coalition, the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Meals on Wheels, Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County and Arise Chautauqua. Another allocation of proceeds from the thrift shop is coming this winter. In a typical year St. Luke’s Thrift Shop generates about $35,000 that is redistributed to community organizations.

“These grants represent the heart of our mission,” said Barb Kiddoo, thrift shop board president. “Through the work of the Thrift Shop and the generosity of our shoppers and volunteers, we’re able to ensure that local organizations have the resources they need to support those on the margins of our community.”

Those who want to help out can take donations to the shop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays. The shop is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

At the same time, let’s not forget about similar efforts in the community. St. Luke’s is the most recent example of the work the faith community is carrying out in the Jamestown area. It’s sorely needed in an area that is dealing with the type of poverty we see locally. The government can only do so much – and that means the faith community finds itself stepping in to fill more and more gaps related to poverty every year.