Thrifty author speaks: Resident publishes second book

Kassie Charnley
Staff Reporter

Michigan News Agency, located downtown, will host a celebration of Jane Knuth for a reading and question and answer session on Wednesday, March 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Jane Knuth, author of “Thrift Store Saints,” recently published her second book titled, “Thrift Store Graces.” Knuth volunteers at Saint Vincent de Paul thrift store located at the end of Stadium Drive on Eleanor Street.

Knuth said “Thrift Store Graces” shares more unusual things that happen while she volunteers her time at the thrift store. 

“This book is full of the experiences that I’ve had at the thrift store and how I am unsure of what I am supposed to learn from these experiences,” Knuth said. 

“The book intertwines two stories – the gritty details of working in a tough neighborhood and my pilgrimage in Bosnia,” she said.

Knuth said that she is unsure of why she wrote the story the way she did, but in the end, it all seemed to work out for her.

Knuth said that her first book is about her beginning at the thrift store, as well as the people she met, and what each person taught her. 

“Thrift Store Graces,” however, tells stories about Knuth’s experiences where she learns that when we help the poor, they end up helping us. Knuth’s story also invites readers to join her as she hesitantly embarks on a pilgrimage to war-torn Bosnia.

Knuth shared that  while writing and sharing these stories about the people that she has met at the thrift store, she has discovered that they are full of wisdom and goodness.

“Originally a math teacher, I wouldn’t have thought about writing stories, but I really wanted to pass these stories on,” Knuth said. “The book has a lot of stories about students – high school and college. These stores actually have a lot to do with the younger crowd.” 

Knuth said that a lot of the stories in her book are about young people and how they volunteer at the thrift store.

“The thrift store is almost on campus. It’s kind of a well kept secret. The students who have discovered us love it,” Knuth said.

Knuth said that the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store is open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Thrift Store Graces,” will be featured at Michigan News Agency on March 14 as she shares stories from the book and answers questions.

Dean Hauck, owner of Michigan News Agency, said that to understand the significance of an intelligent worldview and have the opportunities to achieve that understanding is an important part of every student’s education. 

“Listening to Jane talk about her choices helps us question and challenge our choices. In other words, we continually ask ourselves – where is the wisdom in the next decision I am going to make? To gain insight and wisdom we must seek out many different kinds of experiences, and one of these would be to attend the celebration of Jane Knuth and her book, Thrift Store Graces, at the Michigan News Agency,” Hauck said.