Get to Know Madison Street Salvage Volunteer Cindy Urich

You never know what kind of treasures await you at Madison Street Salvage. From solid wood furniture and eclectic chandeliers to vintage newspapers, the shop is brimming with gems and one-of-a-kind items. But the shop doesn't run itself; like at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, many volunteers support the salvage shop by helping customers, repairing the furniture, and preserving the integrity of Central Indiana's architectural history.
 
Let's get to know one volunteer who has worked at the shop for almost a year: Cindy Urich.
 
When did you know you wanted to start volunteering at Madison Street Salvage?
I started out by volunteering at the Artcraft. I didn't think I could work here at Salvage because I needed to learn about antiques. I came over and met Danny Causey once (when he was the shop manager). He introduced me to all the other people, volunteers, and some employees. And I just fell in love with this place. Christine is wonderful. She's now the Danny of the store. Everybody was so welcoming. I knew that this was where I wanted to volunteer. I volunteer about once or twice a week, depending on how busy they are, to help out.
 
What did you like about volunteering for the Artcraft?
I retired from my job last December. The joke was I would be like a Meijer greeter or Walmart greeter. And, so when volunteering at the Artcraft, I would try to do those jobs. That's just my personality! I really enjoy working with people. And so, here at Madison Street Salvage, I love to greet the people when they come through the door.
 
Every time the bell rings, I try to say, "Welcome to Madison Street Salvage! How can I help you?" One gentleman said, "You just need to record that and put it as the greeting every time someone comes in."
 
Every time I come in, there is something for me to do. When I'm volunteering, I do my small part, which helps out the shop and Franklin Heritage, Inc. as a whole.

What kind of work do you like to do when volunteering for Salvage?
I really enjoy everything that I do here. Sometimes, it's organizing a drawer. I'm huge about organizing. It might be going through, sorting, and cleaning donations so we can get them ready to put out on the floor. Recently, we moved a large cabinet out, and I found a place for all of the china inside the cabinet. I also reorganized all the t-shirts and sweatshirts that are for sale today. So, when I come in, I usually let Christine know that I'll be coming in on a specific day for four to six hours. Then, she'll have a task for me when I come in.
 
Why would you recommend volunteering for Madison Street Salvage to someone else?
What I like the best about working at Madison Street Salvage is introducing myself and meeting others. I don't have to know about antiques to help people. I get to ask them things like, “What is it that you're working on? What kind of project is it? Are you a DIYer, or are you looking to build something or refurbish something?” And all those things I have done. I don't need to know the value of something because I've got other people I can lean on for that. I also love that I can keep busy because there is always something to do here.
 
What makes volunteering here so special for you, and what is your favorite part about volunteering here?
It would be the people. Absolutely the people. Everyone is so lovely! I used to be just a patron of the Artcraft. So, when we would come into town, like for a movie or what have you, we would like to go out to dinner, hit a different restaurant, and then see the film. Franklin is a great place to work, and there's so much to do. When there are events downtown, it's really cool to see people walking in. They usually stop and get ice cream at Hoosier Cupboard. Or they have their little bags of candy. We have a train that comes by often, you know. It's that small-town atmosphere, which I absolutely love.
 
There are many incredible pieces of furniture in the shop. Do you have a favorite?
I don't have a favorite. I see something, and I think, "What can I do with that?" I love to take things and repurpose them or make them into something different. There are a lot of things that I see that I remember my grandma having or things that I remember my dad using. I know a lot of people shop here for the memories.
  
Are you interested in volunteering at Madison Street Salvage? Get the details here!