The home of the East End Thrift Shop, commonly known as Thrifty, is at 5123 Penn Avenue, and is the only property owned by the Thomas Merton Center.  The building last received extensive attention following a fire in late 2000, more recently a new roof (2012) and now requires some periodic tender loving care.

Our most immediate need is replacement of a broken sewer line that extends into the city main located in the alley behind Thrifty.  Leaking can cause occasional clogging of the line, with a resulting back-up of raw sewage. That’s what happened earlier this year. While a plumber was able to temporarily clear the line, a more permanent fix is obviously necessary.

That fix demands some excavation and re-paving; the Center has recently contracted with a plumber to do the work for a little more than $15,000.  Such a sum exceeds what the Merton Center budgeted for building maintenance. Consequently, we are hoping the friends of both Thrifty and TMC can step forward at this time to make a one-time contribution to help defray the cost of the plumbing work and other previously deferred maintenance for 2018.  A jump start grant has been given to the Merton Center by McAuley Ministries for $5,000 in honor of the Sisters of Mercy and their commitment to social justice.