​MEET THE MANAGER
 
Any regular visitor to Maria’s Treasures will recognize this face.  Deb Eld, our manager, is a continuing presence at the store, inviting customers in and checking them out (on the cash register, of course). 
 
Deb became a mentor with Friends of Maria from the early days, eager to participate in group activities for women who were seeking a supportive community of friends. 
 
In 2014, Friends of Maria was offered an opportunity to open a Thrift Store in Taftville.  We asked ourselves, what better way to nurture a community spirit among women (and men) in this multicultural community?
 
 “Birthing” a store requires not only a continuing faith in the value of the project, but a commitment to days and weeks of the hard, physical work associated with getting that store up and running.  Deb, with her husband Andy, joined the effort wholeheartedly.
 
Creating a store requires more than amassing inventory.  It needs a manager willing to keep an open heart and mind in the ongoing effort to create and grow a community of volunteers who share a commitment to each other and the mission they share.  Deb’s got this.
If you want to experience the “Deb difference,” just stop by.  As you pick up your shopping basket and explore your way around the 5200 sq. ft. of bargains, notice the focused team work of the volunteers who are sorting, pricing, and placing the inventory while enjoying each other’s company and offering assistance to browsers like you. 
Rules, standards, and procedures that Deb has developed provide a reassuring structure and, also, a sense of pride and achievement.  The phone calls and flowers when someone is ill, the birthday cakes, and the recognition of personal milestones reinforce frequent words of thanks and appreciation. 
As a Volunteer among volunteers, Deb earns the love and respect of us all.  When you stop in, please give her a thumbs up to let her know you’ve read this tribute and, if the Spirit moves you, ask her what it takes to become a member of her team.