St. Vincent de Paul is growing its footprint across Greater Cincinnati
With the opening of its brand-new thrift store in Hamilton and the completion of a major renovation at its Milford location, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) has greatly expanded its presence in Greater Cincinnati.
“We are thrilled to expand to the Hamilton area and strengthen our commitment to serving the community,” says Jim Wenstrup, vice president of Stores for SVDP of Cincinnati. “This new store will not only provide affordable shopping and convenient donation opportunities but also increase access to vital resources for our neighbors.”
“These are not just real estate developments, they are strategic investments in the well-being of our region,” adds Anne Jones, director of Marketing and Communications for SVDP of Cincinnati. “What many people don’t realize is that St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift stores aren’t just about affordable shopping. They are engines to fund critical programs like homelessness prevention, food pantries and our charitable pharmacy across the Greater Cincinnati area. As more families struggle with rising costs, these new and expanded stores will generate even more revenue to meet that need—while also creating jobs, increasing access to voucher assistance and keeping millions of pounds of goods out of landfills.”
The SVDP Hamilton Thrift Store and Donation Center at 4020 Pleasant Ave. brings more than 24,000 square feet of shopping space for men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, household goods and small appliances as well as large appliances including furniture and mattresses. When fully operational, the store is expected to offer more than 50,000 items.
“The Hamilton Thrift Store is opening in a section of Cincinnati where we have volunteer groups known as Conferences at parishes who are serving our neighbors there,” says Jones. “So neighbors who may be getting vouchers for furniture, clothing or home goods won’t have to travel as far to redeem them. It will also give those in the Hamilton area the opportunity to donate items much closer to their home.”
The Hamilton location will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Beyond providing affordable goods, the new store will also employ 50 to 55 team members, creating local jobs while supporting SVDP’s mission to serve neighbors in need. The store will be SVDP’s third largest location, following its Western Hills store. The expansion of the Milford store makes it the largest thrift store in the Cincinnati area. The recent expansion of the SVDP Milford location converts a former Big Lots location into a full thrift store campus, complete with a furniture showroom and improved donation operations.
“These projects are designed to do more than sell secondhand goods—they are purpose-built to generate increased revenue for vital services, support more neighbors through our voucher program and scale up our ability to serve in times of growing need,” says Jones. “While many people associate us with thrift stores, St. Vincent de Paul is first and foremost a social services nonprofit dedicated to preventing homelessness, feeding hungry families and providing free medications through our charitable pharmacy.”
The proceeds from thrift stores directly support these programs. In 2024 alone, SVDP stores helped fund over $5.4 million in rent and utility assistance and more than 94,000 free prescriptions to local residents through its charitable pharmacies.
The decision to open a store in Hamilton was driven by people who know the community well. SDVP volunteers from local parishes—known as Vincentians—have long been working with families in the area and have seen firsthand the increasing need for resources to support struggling households.
A Vincentian is a volunteer member of a local St. Vincent de Paul Conference—a group of neighbors, usually based in a parish, who come together to serve individuals and families in need within their own community. Rooted in faith and compassion, Vincentians respond to calls for help by providing direct, personal assistance—typically through home visits—offering food, rent and utility aid, clothing, furniture, or simply a listening ear.
Each Conference operates independently but is connected to the larger St. Vincent de Paul network, allowing volunteers to respond quickly and flexibly to the unique needs of their neighbors while upholding the shared mission of bringing hope and stability to those who are struggling.
“We have a total of 1,004 Vincentians serving in 52 Conferences in the Greater Cincinnati area,” says Jones. “We also have volunteers who come to our Outreach Center or who answer phones, so we really have thousands of volunteers who donate almost 79,000 hours of service every year.
“Our volunteers, donors and services are embedded in the Greater Cincinnati community, and over 92% of net store proceeds stay right here, helping neighbors in need,” adds Jones. “Last year, through our voucher program, we provided over $1 million in free clothing, furniture and household essentials to families facing hardship. Vouchers are distributed through our network of neighborhood-based volunteers who walk alongside families, offering support beyond just goods—offering dignity, prayer and community.”
Donating and buying from SVDP Thrift Stores also helps the environment by giving new life to gently used items and keeping millions of pounds out of landfills. In 2024, SVDP recycled more than 2.2 million pounds of clothing that couldn’t be sold or given away (items with rips, holes, stains, etc.)—ensuring responsible stewardship of every donation,
With thousands of active, local volunteers, St. Vincent de Paul brings personalized care to every situation. Whether it’s a home visit, bed delivery or helping someone navigate their options, the model is hands-on and relational.
“Donations are critical to our operations but so are relationships,” says Jones. “The more we can develop and grow, the more neighbors we can serve.
“Cincinnati is a very generous community,” adds Jones. “The people who make contributions and donations to our thrift stores help us to continue to fund our work, so we are really grateful.”
