The Salvation Army is opening a store in St. Paul this weekend that features a drive-through option for donors to drop off items.

The 24,000-square-foot store in the Sun Ray commercial district at 1907 Suburban Av. in St. Paul opens at 9 a.m. Saturday. The previous tenants were a Napa Auto Parts store and the Empire Beauty School.

There is one other Salvation Army store with a drive-through donation option — in Fridley at 1000 E. Moore Lake Drive.

"This is the direction we are heading," said Tom Canfield, supervisor for the Salvation Army stores in the Twin Cities. "We want to make it easier for people to donate and provide them with a great shopping experience."

Among the opening-day enticements is the donation of 2,000 pillows from MyPillow inventor Mike Lindell. The pillows typically sell for about $50 each. Salvation Army spokeswoman Julie Borgen said the pillows will be sold "for the lowest prices" ever offered.

"Because of my Christian faith and my struggles with addictions in the past, I feel very connected to the Salvation Army and the people they serve," said Lindell, CEO of the Chanhassen-based company. "I feel very blessed to be where I am right now in my life, and I am passionate about giving back."

All proceeds from Salvation Army's nine stores in the Twin Cities help fund the charity's Adult Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis, which has been offering free and low-cost drug and alcohol rehabilitation for more than 100 years.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482