Started in 2015, the local not-for-profit consignment store specializes in religious items and high-end home decor
LIVONIA – After several of her family members passed away in short succession, Cathy Dillon felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to create a place that would allow people's precious items, beloved and collected over a lifetime, to be recirculated through the community.
Dillon, an Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington parishioner, opened a brick-and-mortar consignment store, Angels, Saints and Stuff, in 2015, where she began to sell religious items and high-end home decor.
The beautifully curated, expansive store, located at 19223 Merriman Rd. in Livonia, is a treasure trove of religious statues, paintings, and books, as well as carefully picked secular items such as furniture, home decor and jewelry, that have all been donated by members of the surrounding community.
In turn, 100% of the store’s profits go to local charities such as Sanctum House, St. Francis Center, Redford Interfaith, Vista Maria and countless others.
“I had a sense that a store like mine would be really helpful for the community,” Dillon told Detroit Catholic. “The Holy Spirit really guided in the name, ‘Angels, Saints and Stuff’ in that I would specialize in religious things that people have kept over the years. They found that they could bring it to this store, and it would be cared for, and it would be sold to someone who would love it going forward, and that money would go to a charitable organization.”
Dillon’s store is meticulously curated, and she encourages people to come in to simply browse for the experience. They are particular about what they allow into the store; however, she lets people know that anything donated that she can’t resell will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul Society and Salvation Army and will give really useful items to Deo Gratias Ministries in Detroit.
People donate beautiful, valuable items that have been in families for a long time, Dillon said, and it’s a “privilege” that people trust her with these items.
Dillon has always been philanthropic – her parents started a foundation in their own name, the John D. & Jean E. Dinan Foundation, in 1997, which gives back to the local community. Dillon's work with the foundation made her all the more familiar with local charities and nonprofits.
“I gravitate toward the things I am very familiar with…like (the) Pope Francis Center and the Detroit Rescue Mission,” Dillon explained. “I give to the St. Louis Center (which serves) people with disabilities. I give to My Work Matters, which is the coffee shop next to my store that employs special needs individuals.”
Additionally, the middle section of the store consists entirely of books. Dillon said they try to keep the costs of the books reasonable and that all the book profits go to Right to Life – LIFESPAN in Livonia.
Perhaps one of the store's most significant contributions is its work with Sanctum House, a sanctuary for women survivors of human trafficking in Novi. In addition to financial donations, Dillon worked with executive director Karen Moore to create volunteer positions at the store for Sanctum House residents.
“As the women enter the program and get enough experience under their belt, they will send them over to volunteer on Tuesdays for a 3-4 hour period,” Dillon said. Dillon additionally explained that volunteer work is part of the Sanctum House program.
“Almost every woman who goes through the program would come through my store as a volunteer, “ Dillon added. “I get to know them, and I get to know some of their stories. I don’t pry, but if they want to talk, it is always kind of eye-opening to hear what people experience.”
Dillon is unsure of how many women from Sanctum House have passed through her store over the years, but to this day, one of her long-time Saturday employees is Paige, the first resident of Sanctum House.
Paige, who asked not to be identified by her last name, is a “survivor and a recovering addict” in addition to being “the first resident and graduate of Sanctum House.” In 2017, Paige entered a different recovery program.
“I had a year in recovery, and I was living with my oldest daughter. She said to me, ‘Mom, Narcotics Anonymous is just not doing it for you – it’s a good part of your recovery process, but you are walking around with all this anger,’” Paige told Detroit Catholic. “Drugs kind of numbed all my feelings and emotions, so when I got clean, I didn't know how to identify my feelings or emotions. The only feeling and emotion I could identify with was anger. My daughter told me to get extra help.”
In her search for more help, Paige went to another recovery and crisis center and told them her story.
“The lady said, ‘You would be a perfect candidate for this new program that is opening; it is called Sanctum House. It’s for survivors of human trafficking, and I really think this would help you,’” Paige explained.
Paige was hesitant when she found out it was a two-year program, but decided to give it a try on a trial basis when she found out it was not a lockdown program and that she could leave if she wanted to.
“I ended up staying for two years, and my life is completely changed; I have a beautiful life today,” Paige said.
Paige met Dillon when she began volunteering at Angels, Saints and Stuff. About three months into her time at Sanctum House, Paige said the executive director called her into her office and told her that Kathy wanted to offer her a job at the store. Dillon gave Paige her own key to the store.
“I was so floored because nobody ever trusted me like that, and for Dillon to open her door and allow me and give me a key was beyond anything,” Paige said. “That was my start of (beginning) to trust women outside of the life that I was living. It was such an amazing experience. It brings tears to my eyes to even think about it. Cathy does so much for all of us – it amazes me. The biggest part for me is the volunteers that were at Sanctum House made the biggest impact on my life, and I am good friends with all of them.”
Paige calls the store “her sanctuary.”
“This is where I come for my peace,” Paige said, “I work a hectic job, so on Saturdays, I come and get a breath here at Angels.”
Dillon wants others to experience a similar peace and sense of community at the store.
“I really enjoy people finding peace and beauty walking through (the store). In our secular world, I think people come in, and they feel really good about having religious things surround them,” Dillon said. “It gives you a real sense of peace. In fact, a person came in once and said, ‘My church was closed, so I came here.’”
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