Good day at the Salvation Army yesterday.

14 years ago

Our Salvation Army tags come in five colors. On Wednesday everything is half-price except one of the colors. This week it was pink. Everything I found yesterday was one of the other colors, so I spent very little: $18 for five shirts and two pair of corduroy jeans. The shirts are nice labels: Chico's, Coldwater Creek, Timberland, etc.

One of the jeans is this exact style, in the same grey color. The other pair (beige) is hardly an exciting label--Walmart's Faded Glory--but they have the lean, boot-cut line that I like. Now I have to go through my clothes and find at least seven items to get rid of. ;-)

How have the KT's other thrift-store shoppers been doing?

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Comments (13)

marie_ndcal
14 years ago
I have been donating more than buying, for a couple of reasons. I don't need what I have and with so many people flooded out in Minot, they need everything we can help with. But I am always looking for that one special thing I do need. No so much in clothing, but in small items to put in my office (the black hole as my kids claim it is).
kathyg_in_mi
14 years ago
I had a great day at St. Vincent DePaul today. Dropped off 2 boxes of stuff that have been floating around in my van for a month!
Kathy G in MI
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I went to the Salvation Army with my mother and sister one day and found a lovely set of canisters, made by Pfaltzgraff. My mother boughht then for me. It started my tea rose collection. At the time I was beginning life in my first apartment. It's a lovely little one bedroom, great room and full bath and starter kitchen. So my space is truely limited. And the things I am putting in it, I select with great care. When I first moved in, I bought cheap, starting with nothing except my clothes and three cats. I replace rather then add to as time goes on. My sister told me the other day, that she finds it hard to get rid of things, but that I, on the other hand am an advocate of 'less is best'. I told her that, yes, I am but the space is pretty apt to fill up as time goes by. One day, another sister and I went to a second hand shop, and I found plates, bread and butter plates and cereal bowls in the same pattern. A few weeks later, I returned there and found the salt and pepper shakers for a dollar. I was thrilled. Back to the salvation army again, yesterday. I found a sweet candle holder with metal roses on it to hold one of those huge candles. I went to a furnature store, also, hopeing to get a little dining room set to replace the borrowed one that I am using. They have a set called the nook. Its a corner set, with bench and you can get extra chairs to add to or instead of the bench. Another set, is round table with drop leaf. Heres my thoughts. I love to change my furnature around, and around and around. If I get the nook, set, then I will be locked in as to where it sets. I have to keep it scaled down. I really want the nook set, but think the rounded one with drop leaves might be the better to buy. Oh decisions, decisions. This little apartment makes me feel like I'm decorating a doll house. LCW
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Regardless of what those news folks think they know, I have a 57 yr old 1/2 brother who has been both physically & mentally handicapped since early childhood, but in spite of all that he does not receive any welfare support. For the last 23 years Randy has worked for Goodwill Industries. Randy lives about 6 miles from a large Goodwill Industries processing plant in Youngstown, Ohio and every morning a 12passenger van picks him up and transports him to work at the plant. When he first started there he worked as a helper on one of their 4 trucks and they operated over a 30 mile radius picking up the donations at the drop boxes & stores and taking that to the processing plant. Then he worked inside the plant for years. He now works on cleaning service van operated by Goodwill that contracts to clean offices at night. I am personally acquanted with the general manager at the processing plant and I have been through the entire operation many times. When the donations first come in they are set off at the loading docks and sorted. All electronics is sent to one part of the plant, lamps, small appliances and electrical tools to another, computers and electronic games to another part and all clothing to the main part of the plant. The clothing is carefully sorted. The items that are in good repair, free of major stains and within current styles are sent to the laundry where they are either washed and dried or dry cleaned, whichever is necessary, tehn they are dried, hung on hangers and placed on racks to go out to the retail stores. Any items that have tears, paint spots or large stains are sent to the rag department. In the rag department they are sorted with cottons in one batch, synthetics in another and denims in another. The absorbant fabrics such as tee shirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants & such are cut into 10 to 12" squares and bagged, boxed or baled for retail as cleaning rags. Synthetics are baled in 100lb bales and sold commercially. (I don't know what they are used for). The majority of the denims that sent to the rag department are baled in 100 or 500lb bales and sent to Crane Paper Company in Dalton,Massachusetts where they are recycled into a special paper for the U.S. Treasury Department to print money. In the appliance shop lamps are rewired, vacuums cleaners repaired and all varieties of small appliances and electrical hand tools are repaired and tested, then sent to the Goodwill Retail stores. In the computer shop some computers are fully restored and prepared for retail while others are stripped for components or special metal recycling programs. All in all, it is a very impressive operation, especially when you consider that the pre-requisite for employment is either being homeless or having a physical or mental handicap ( and many fill all three of those categories). Now it is true that Goodwill sends clothing to third world countries, but for the most part that is clothing that is so far out of style that they can't sell it here, or it is clothing that has been sent out to the retail stores and if it doesn't sell within a reasonable time it is sent overseas. No in addition to all of that, in most communities Goodwill works very closely witht the local fire department so if a family looses their home to fire, flood or other dissaster every member of the family is given a voucher to go to Goodwill and select a small wardrobe plus essential kitchen equipment and sometimes even furniture free of charge. Now does Goodwill Industries make a profit? Sure they do, because that is the American way, but while making their profit they also provide good jobs paying a competitive wage, with health & welfare benefits to a class of ppl who would not even be considered for hiring in most companies. Goodwill not even has an online auction similar to Ebay, but I can assure you, the prices are pennies on the dollar. I personally watch it every day and I have bought hundreds of dollars worth of photographic equipment, much of which is not even available on the common market... Check it out: www.shopgoodwill.com
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User
14 years ago
Alisande, I love Salvation Army for so many reasons. It is a cheery place. The volunteers and staff greet you like you are important. It is a nice store isn't it? I have bought lamps that I love and dress up clothes for my girls and a wallet that was the perfect size for me. Made new friends with other buyers.
The drive thru people are so courteous and I like giving them good things that don't fit because I want them to make money. They are the first on the scene around the world without promoting themselves.

Also mine has a residence for men in treatment and I got to teach some reading courses and attend their darling church. Big success stories.
lydia1959
14 years ago
You did great Alisande!

I've been to quite a few resale/thrift stores the past few weeks (mostly looking for items for Halloween costumes), but haven't found much. I did just purchase an old record cabinet off Craigslist this week... looking for a couple kitchen chairs now.

No Salvation Army near me, we do have a good thrift store though.
glenda_al
14 years ago
I used to buy GS toys there, and have found humidifiers.

But, me, I am squeemish about buying clothes. Just me.
lazypup
14 years ago
I have a 45yr old step brother, who I love dearly, but bless his heart, I have to say Randy is mentally one sandwich short of a happy meal and that is further complicated by a slight physical disability in his legs. As you might imagine, he had a very difficult time finding employment, but about 15 years ago he went to work for Goodwill Industries. To my complete surprise, Randy has a very good salary with a health & welfare package, including an IRA. On top of that, Randy has a wardrobe that some ppl would die for.

Randy works on a van that goes around doing contract cleaning services for offices and apartment complexes and every day when the van returns to the processing plant he goes in the store and sees what they just got in. If one were to see Randy on the street, judging by his wardrobe they would think he was a doctor or lawyer or something.

When I retired I mentioned to Randy that I wanted to get back into serious photography and he told me I should go to the store and see what they had for equipment. I did as he requested more or less as a coutesy to him and I did not find much at the store that I was interested in, BUT, the lady at the store told me most of the good photo equipment is sent to central points where they list it on the Goodwill online auction. I didn't even know they had such a thing, but when I got home I punched up the website, and wow!!!! Was I in for a surprise. In the last 4 years I have bought two professional digital cameras and 9 professional film cameras. (I bought the film cameras because they came in package deals and had extra lenses I could use on the digitals.) I am now four years into this project and to date I have amassed two Pentax DSLR's with 16 lenses and a long,long, long list of extras, all for less than $2000, whereas just one of the cameras cost over $900 on Ebay and about $100 or more each for the lenses.

Needless to say, every day when I turn my computer on my first stop is the Goodwill auction, then on to GW....LOL.

Last year I did all my xmass shopping on the Goodwill auction and everybody wanted to know where I found the things I got, but that still remains my secret.

About once a week Jan & I go bargain hunting at the local Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul and a local thrift store. We find its more fun that yard sales or the flea market and quite often we find much better deals, by example, last week I bought 5 large Pyrex glass baking dishes for about $1 each.

All I can say is, if you like shopping at the thrift stores you would love the online auction. They have dozens of categories and there is something for everybody at super bargain prices, not to mention that the proceeds go to help ppl who are less fortunate than we.

Check it out...

www.shopgoodwill.com
User
14 years ago
We have a SA where I used to shop but we have a better one now which has a religious affiliation in a former SuperPetz store. . Every Tuesday it's half off for seniors over 55. except for one color tag. I stop in every week. This week shorts and tees were 99 cents and I bought a tee for 49 cents. I only buy labels I wear..R. Lauren J. Jill, GAP, Banana Republic ,Eddie Bauer..This is in an affluent area and the stuff is great. I donate too and need to do some big time this winter.
two25acres
14 years ago
lazypup, that's the first thing I do as well. In the mornings I check the stuff that's ending for the day and then in the evenings I check for the new stuff. I just snagged a NWT zero exposure down coat for $23.00. Still has the original tags. On Sunday mornings I search for all items that are NWT and for certain locations. Grandville Michigan always has great furniture and some higher end stuff. We've been doing the auction for about 8 years now. Today I've got the kitchen aid food processor in my watch list. Love the site. I don't pay retail anymore unless I have to.
linda_in_iowa
14 years ago
I have picked up two free items that were on curbs when I was walking Lila. The first is a fire pit with a grated top. It has a little rust but I bought a can of spray paint that is heat resistant. Yesterday I picked up an umbrella stroller that was in good condition but was dirty. I scrubbed it and it looks great now. I love curb shopping.
paula_pa
14 years ago
I just moved so I'm more focused on particular items and not buying as much. I have to have patience since I can't just walk into our small Goodwill and find everything I need at once but for the savings it's worth it to me to check there and hit yard sales for a while before resorting to paying higher retail prices for the things I can wait for.

I realized I needed extra blankets and I found a great, looks brand new, large, warm, fleece blanket at Goodwill for Nick for $3.50. He loves it. I have been busy organizing things so I picked up plastic shoe boxes with lids for 47 cents last weekend. Oh, my sister is into those Shape-Up shoes and I found a brand new pair of Sketchers Shape-Ups in her size for $6.97. They are an attractive style (for that sort of shoe - not orthopedic looking) and we take the same size so I will wear them if she doesn't want them.
User
14 years ago
I also do curb side shopping every Tuesday which is garbage day. This week I could not believe someone actually threw out two terra cotta planters. I saw them when I was walking the dogs and then went back in the car. I thought they had to be plastic but they weren't and my husband could barely lift them. No cracks or anything. They are worth at least $50 a piece at a garden shop. They're the nicest ones I own now. ..I love Nate Berkus and he curb shops and thrift shops weekly.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
We love to do it too, we have found so many great items at the various GW and SA stores, also here there is a NAM store with an amazing book area it looks like a library it is so large.

When my Mom was here that was what she wanted to do, so we went and she found some very cute new blouses and tops and jackets, many with tags still on.
My husband is always finding some kind of tools he has to have when we go.
I have a purse addiction so I have to be very careful or I end up with a basket full of purses LOL
I love those treasure hunt finds.
donna37
14 years ago
When I lived in Ca. I shopped SA weekly and dressed our 3 kids from there. DD's kindergarten teacher was telling me at a parent/teacher conference that she was one of the best dressed kids in his class and I had to laugh and told him where I shopped and his jaw dropped. He was from a very afluent family in LA and didn't know about such I guess. Back then the yard sales were just coming into popularity and rarely could find a good yard sale.

Sad to say, our nearest SA is over 100 mi. from here so I haven't been shopping in one for years. Do hit lots of yard sales and would love to curb shop but live in the boonies and rarely get to town on a good 'curb' day.

I keep forgetting about Goodwill.com. Have shopped there on occasion.

When one of my DDs was about 12/13 she hated yard sales and would tell me to go on by when I saw one, saying there's nothing good there and she was usually right! Now, 30+ years later she's the first to spot one, do U turns to get to one and loves them. Of course she had 3 DDs to dress, only one home now. She saw that it really made a difference and Mom knew what she was doing. lol.

I will say that my two DDs never complained about the clothing I found or begged for the high priced stuff that happened to be in fashion at the time. They knew we couldn't afford things like that.

Good day at the Salvation Army yesterday.

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