The decline in overall retail sales has a direct impact on thrift stores, causing many of them to shut their doors. The Salvation Army generates over $100-million in revenue each year.  Many stores on the West Coast are shutting down; however, that is not the case here in the Northeast Kingdom.

Nearly two-million people rely on services that the Salvation Army funds. According to Chris West, the Salvation Army District Manager, "Ninety cents to every dollar goes directly back into community programs." Travis Delong, Salvation Army Captain, added that every dollar they make after overhead expenses goes back into helping the community in rental, fuel, and utility assistance.

The Salvation Army in St. Johnsbury is doing what it can to keep its doors open. West said, "Unfortunately, like the rest of the economy we have to cut payroll, we have to cut other situations, the last thing the Salvation Army ever wants to cut is the programs." Delong continued, "We do have to cut expenses back, we try to lower our overhead as much as possible."

That includes cutting back on electricity usage, rent, lowering the trash bill, and cutting back on employees hours. This has been their way of "keeping ahead of the game," a feat that seems to be paying off. St. Johnsbury resident Lisa Carlson said, "I'm glad that they're here, it's a good place to send stuff that's no longer useful to us, but someone out there certainly could use them."

News 7's Investigative Reporter Josh Kidd tells us how the Salvation Army in St. Johnsbury is able to keep their store up and running.