YORK - Visitors to the York Community Service Association Thrift Shop will see some new faces behind the counter following a mass exodus of employees this month.
Cheryl and Jon Werner, a mother-and-son team who have overseen operations at the shop for the past seven years, resigned after the YCSA Board of Directors intervened at the shop over concerns about the financial impact of paid part-time employees working at the store, which serves as the primary funding source for the nonprofit organization.
YCSA President Scott Berger explained that the issue came to light as the association began moving forward with its plan to build a new facility to house the Family Services Office, York Food Pantry, which joined with YCSA in 2007, and the Thrift Shop at a new location on Route 1. As income levels were reviewed by YCSA's banking institution during the application process for funding the new project, Berger said it became clear that YCSA was not netting enough from its store operations to move forward.
Tax returns for YCSA, accessed by The York Independent through public databases for nonprofit entities, showed total revenues in 2006 of $268,392 against total expenses of $252,726. Of the total revenue amount, $44,307 was received via direct contributions and donations, while $222,593 was generated from program service revenue in the form of thrift shop sales.
Of the total expense amount, only $66,841 was utilized for charitable giving in the form of assistance to needy parties, according to the report, while $149,184 was expensed for salaries, wages and benefits. An additional $22,585 covered remaining operational expenses. As such, for every dollar received by YCSA, 25 cents was returned to the community in the form of charitable assistance, while 55 cents was expended on the salaries and benefits of the paid employees.
Speaking of the fiscal 2007 ratios, which are not presently available on public databases, Berger said "they are even worse."
That reality has put into question the funding for the new building.
After the Werners and several part-time Thrift Shop employees resigned last week, Cheryl Werner spoke of the departure, explaining she and her son were paying part-time workers to be sure to have staff on hand to assist at the shop as volunteer availability varies.
Berger estimated that about 10 to 13 paid employees were working for YCSA during the 2006 fiscal year.
Werner said that the funds raised by the shop covered the full-time posts she and her son held managing the store as well as Family Services Director Lorna Ryan's part-time position and six employees averaging 10.6 hours per week in the Thrift Shop, adding that those individuals also volunteered additional hours. When asked about the board's concerns related to the percentage of the shop's income going to cover salaries when compared to the funds dispersed to families and individuals in need, Werner said her position was to oversee the management of the Thrift Shop, so she was not aware of the funding issue before the effort to build the new facility brought it to light, adding she and Jon were in full support of the effort to bring all the components of YCSA together under one roof.
Werner said the only other compensation given to Thrift Shop volunteers was the option to consign their own items for resale in the shop for personal profit. She described the practice as an effort to give hardworking volunteers "a few bread crumbs" to thank them for their commitment.
However, the practice of holding private consignment sales in the shop was one of concern, Berger said, as it was never approved by the board and there was no oversight to determine how much was being made by individuals - thus raising additional concerns that the practice could jeopardize YCSA's tax-exempt status as a nonprofit organization.
Werner said she and her son, and several other employees, departed because of the way they were treated by certain board members as they planned changes at the shop, although she spoke highly of Berger and others for their commitment to the success of the organization.
"I just hope that they make a go of it," she said. "It is very important to the town of York."
Moving forward, Berger said he is thankful for the family services director, board members and volunteers who have stepped up to assist at the shop, adding, "They believe in this organization."
Berger said he would like to see the shop's operations mirror those of the York Food Pantry, where Director Tom Whalen, a part-time employee, oversees a full contingent of volunteers while bringing in donations of food and funds so the pantry pays for itself.
"He brings in more money than he costs us," Berger said.
What comes next remains to be seen, but out of the difficult situation Berger said he hopes more residents will volunteer to assist at the shop.
"I've always believed it should be volunteer-based," Berger said, so that a greater portion of the funds raised will go directly to local residents in need.
