2024-04-09T17:50:25-04:00

The Church of St Barnabas in Irvington always reminds me why I am passionate about thrifting and why their sale is my all-time favorite.

April 9, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

I had the honor and privilege of attending the volunteers’ dinner, during which the grants from the proceeds of the 2023 sale were awarded. It was a lovely night, and I met the sales chairs and many volunteers who made this sale happen. It takes months for this sale to come together, and it is a well-oiled machine led by Linda Pierpont, Mary Mielke, and Cathy Hansen. The chairs are hands-on; running this sale takes many volunteers and even more volunteer hours. There are thousands of pieces of clothing to be inspected and price tagged (they tag on the seams so as not to hurt the integrity of the garments – impressive). Everyone at St. Barnabas strongly believes in reducing, reusing, and recycling, and it was demonstrated at the dinner by some of the volunteers who proudly displayed the number of thrifted garments they wore. I believe the winner was six pieces, which included accessories—well done.

Since the start of the sale 29 years ago, over one million dollars in grants have been given to charities. A parishioner must sponsor all grant requests, and the charity must be a 501C3 to be eligible for the grants. In her first year on the grants committee, Jeannie Edler told me how excited she was to be a part of this and see how much these grant awards have a direct community impact.

Two of the grant recipients were there to talk about how these grants helped their charities. Heather Thomas, an EMT on the Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps board, spoke about how their grant made it possible to purchase a Toughbook laptop, which is used on all calls for patient and other critical information, cutting reporting time significantly. Pamela Grunstein from the Bulldog Family Fund also spoke. Since 2015, the Bulldog Family Fund has supported children and families who qualify for free or reduced lunch, food, clothing, school supplies, field trip fees, summer camp fees, and summer school tuition.

Some other grant recipients included Friends of the Irvington Library, which provides music and storytelling for the neurodiverse population. Neighborhood House provides social and wellness programs for the senior population. The Sharing Shelf provides clothing packs for children in Westchester who are clothing insecure. This is just a tiny fraction of the charities the Church of St Barnabas has helped this year with their grants. The Summer and November Sales continue to help others even after the sale by donating unsold clothes to Career Closet, The Sharing Shelf, shelters, and thrift shops.

The 2024 Summer Clothing Sale is Thursday, June 27, 1-2 pm & 5-7 pm; Friday, June 28, 10-2 pm; and Saturday, June 29, 10-2 pm. You can help the Church of St. Barnabas by donating your summer and vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories for women and men.

Donation Information is as follows:

* Donate on June 8, from 12 to 2 pm, when volunteers will be on-site to give you a Donor’s Shopping Pass, which allows you to shop a day early from the general public.

* Donate when the office is staffed Monday-Friday from 10 am – 2:00 pm

* Call the office at 914-591-8194 to set up an alternate donation time

* Leave donations outside, weather permitting

Donations will not be accepted after Friday, June 14.

This is the one sale that you should not miss!

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!!

Here are some of my favorite quotes about thrift shopping that I love!

January 7, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

Happy New Year! I wanted to share with you some of my favorite quotes on thrift shopping! I hope that you enjoy them!

Thrift shopping is all about going into the thrift shop and having no expectation of what you might find.

Macklemore

My mom passed on her obsession of all things antique or vintage. I love to go thrift store shopping or explore any sort of garage sale. Treasure hunting is a family passion.

Zoey Deutch

Thrift shopping is really just an extension of me being that same kid and going into a place that’s completely unconventional that has really endless possibilities in terms of outfits that you can put together and really just expressing yourself.

Macklemore

I love thrift shopping. You can get ten things because everything costs, like, three dollars.

Lorde

I might wear skinny pants one day; I might wear thrift shop pants the next day.

Post Malone

I am a theater girl, and a lot of theater girls dress however pleases them. I wear whatever looks good on me. I wear what I wear because I have been shopping at thrift stores since I was five.

Kirsten Vangsness

The whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn’t know which was which.

Helen Mirren

Thank you, Brainy Quote, for the above quotes!

And here are three more:

Natalie Joos
On her advice for new vintage shoppers: “Never shop for something specific. Just browse. Don’t expect to find what you were looking for. It never works. Either go for cool pieces that stand out and are unique (you will keep them longer) or go for the big designer pieces that will last you a lifetime. Don’t buy things you know you will dispose of. Try stuff on. Vintage was made for smaller people. But don’t be afraid to buy things too big. Alterations are common when buying vintage. You don’t want to miss a cool piece just because it’s too big. Too small is not recommended!” —Elle, February 2013

Winona Ryder
“Most of my wardrobe is vintage and I’ve worn dresses to the Oscars that I got for $10. At Sean Penn’s last Haiti gala I wore this vintage dress that I’d worn to a film premiere in 2005. I know that’s kind of a no-no in the fashion world, but why wear something just once if you love it?” —Red, April 2014

Tracee Ellis Ross
“I buy a lot of vintage because, well, it’s AMAZING! And truthfully you can get great stuff for not a lot of money. I have a passion for vintage clothing because of the quality and uniqueness of the pieces (you don’t really have to worry about showing up in the same outfit as someone else). To update some of my vintage finds or sometimes just to make them fit, I have the help of a fabulous seamstress and dressmaker, Daniela Kurrle. She really is stupendous and our collaborations have resulted in some of my favorite dresses in my closet.” —her site, February 2013

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

Let It Shine Again (L.I.S.A.) Thrift Boutique in Verplanck. Great shopping with proceeds stocking The Pantry downstairs.

November 26, 2023November 26, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/3 Comments

I have been to the Let It Shine Again Thrift Boutique at least three or four times and have left happy with some great finds each time. It is not a large boutique but packed with excellent women’s clothes, gorgeous jewelry and accessories, and beautiful household merchandise. The last trip yielded me a Banana Republic skirt and a beautiful Ann Taylor Loft sweater — a classic and elegant outfit. I have done well on each trip to this fabulous boutique. All proceeds from the Let It Shine Again (L.I.S.A.) Thrift Boutique, go to The Pantry, a food pantry conveniently located downstairs from L.I.S.A. The Pantry serves Cortlandt residents on Fridays from 11 am until 3 pm and other local area residents right after.

I spoke to Kacey Morabito Grean, the founder of Let It Shine Again Thrift Boutique. With help from her sister, Maria Morabito, Kacey started a food pantry on January 1, 2019, because she heard some teachers were buying snacks for students who didn’t have them. Kacey and Maria organized a group of volunteers using the basement of Mt. Carmel Hall – in partnership with the Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Because the community was so generous- they began to shower their food shoppers with all kinds of good things: clothes – backpacks – and housewares!

The Shiny Nose Room dedicated to Christmas

Kacey often said, “If we only had a thrift store, we could really serve our shoppers”! The overworked volunteers would laugh and tell her to stop with “all her ideas.” One of her “ideas” was to create a nonprofit to fundraise for their work, supporting families and creating events like women’s weekends and vendor markets. Let It Shine Inc. was born in March of 2020.

One of the devoted (and most helpful) volunteers, Nancy with my thrift haul.

And then – Covid hit. They went from serving 60 food shoppers weekly to 125 cars lined up the road. They quickly outgrew the basement of Mt. Carmel Hall. Town of Cortlandt Councilman Frank Farrell was instrumental in getting a generous lease of the original Town Hall building. It has two floors – so they wasted no time emptying their basements and attics to open the L.I.S.A. Thrift Boutique in February of 2021.

L.I.S.A. is open Wednesday through Saturday, and on a good week, it brings in enough to cover the food bill for The Pantry. The bar is very high at LISA. They only take the best of the best donations. They have no storage space and few volunteers, so they must find the easiest way to do things!

Kacey says, “We can sum up our mission in two words. “Ahh” and “Wow.” When shoppers come into our pantry, we want them to feel “ahh”: ease and abundance.” Kacey also wants food shoppers to walk upstairs into the L.I.S.A.; “We want them to feel wow!” Kacey said, “Beauty is the gift that elevates the spirit. Raising the vibration is what Let It Shine is all about.”

Let It Shine also offers free acupuncture treatment to Cortlandt area residents undergoing cancer treatment. This initiative is called “Gracie’s Way. This is just part of the many initiatives that Let It Shine provides. They have a Holiday Market on Sunday, December 3^rd, from 11 am until 4 pm at Mt. Carmel Hall on 8^th Street at Highland Ave in Verplanck, New York. They are helping so many others that I am happy to get the word out so they make more money to feed more families. Kacey is doing a fantastic job, but as more families need help, so does Let It Shine. Your shopping dollars are helping feed families!

L.I.S.A. “Let It Shine Again” Thrift Boutique
137 7th Street,
Verplanck, New York
Wednesdays 9 AM – 1 PM
Thursdays 9 AM – 1 PM
Fridays 11 A – 4 PM
Saturdays 9 AM – 1 PM
Donations by appointment. Email Info@LetItShineOnline.com
Please check out their website for specific information on donations.
http://www.LetItShineOnline.com

When you are in the area, you can also visit:

St. Patrick’s Thrift Shop
240 11th St. Verplanck
Monday & Wednesday & Saturday, 9:30 am-12:30 pm

Carriage House Thrift Shop
Church of Divine Love
80 Sunset Road Montrose
Thursday & Saturday 10 am – 2 pm September-June
10 am – 1 pm July and August.

The Mustard Seed
Reformed Church of Cortlandtown
Saturday 10-2, Sunday 11-2
2124 Albany Post Rd.
Montrose (914) 737-6482

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

The Back Door Thrift Shop – Bargains Galore!

August 21, 2023August 21, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

I have another great treasure for you in White Plains. The Back Door Thrift Shop on Greenridge Avenue is a real gem and one that you should visit. They have a variety of men’s and women’s clothing. They carry shoes, housewares, costume jewelry, accessories, home décor, and various other items. The clothing they sell varies from new to gently worn to vintage. The Back Door Thrift Shop has set pricing which to me is a great big plus in any thrift store. I will say that on each visit that I have made, I have walked out with at least two or three items of clothing. They DO NOT sell children’s toys, clothes, games, or accessories nor do they sell books.

What the Back Door Thrift Shop primarily does is price their clothing to accommodate people in the local community struggling so they have a place where they can buy nice clothing at very affordable prices. They also cater to the true “thrifties” like me who love to shop at places like this. The business has been steadily picking up with many of their long-term customers returning and through word of mouth (and hopefully this blog) they will attract a whole new clientele. They have customers that come from Brooklyn monthly (impressive as there is no shortage of thrift shops in Brooklyn) to see what the Back Door’s latest merchandise is.

I was able to sit down with Wendy, Chair of the Thrift Shop Committee who has been a volunteer at the thrift shop for eleven years and a member of the Hebrew Institute for 30 years. We talked about the Back Door Thrift Shop and its history. The Back Door Thrift Shop has been in existence for over 40 years. In 2019, the Hebrew Institute (home of the Back Door Thrift Shop) began a renovation/rebuild and they had to close. They had moved to a temporary location just a few blocks away and then Covid happened, and they had to close the temporary location. The shop was reopened in January 2023 in their completely renovated place (beautiful, spacious, and bright) which includes ground level direct entrance which is ADA compliant. Wendy collaborates closely with Deborah, a former Chair, and other committee members, to create an amazing shop and shopping experience which makes it a great team effort.

Proceeds from the shop are used to support synagogue programs and activities for youth, adults, families, and seniors plus it helps bring in outside scholars and lecturers. They are always looking for donations that can be donated during shop hours. See the website for specific donation details.

I think that you will love the Back Door Thrift Shop so help me spread the word because they are doing so much for so many!

The Back Door Thrift Shop

20 Greenridge Ave

White Plains, NY 10605

Website: https://www.hiwp.org/thrift_shop

914-948-3095 ext. 301

Email: thriftshop@hiwp.org

HOURS: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
10am-2pm

Sundays reopening starting on October15 10am – 2pm

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day!! Celebrate by shopping at one of your favorite thrift shops.

August 17, 2023August 17, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day. We all know that I think it should be a national holiday. I love my thrift shopping – both shopping and writing about it.

When you shop The Ridgefield Thrift Shop, My Sister’s Place, St. Bart’s, The Back Door Thrift Shop (blog coming soon), Cauz For Pawz, New Canaan Thrift Shop, and countless others, you are supporting PHENOMENAL causes and helping change countless lives. Not to mention that we are helping save the planet by keeping clothes out of landfills. “Reduce, reuse, and recycle” is my motto.

In honor of National Thrift Shop Day, here are some quick tips for thrift shopping. Although this blog is a repeat, there are some new tips included.

Be friendly and ask the staff when the most new merchandise is put out.

Be kind when thrift shopping, most of the people who work at charitable thrift shops are volunteers, and they have already spent hours filling the racks. If you put items back, put them back on the right rack.

Know your labels and brands – know what to invest in for your basic wardrobe pieces and what to buy for fun.

Don’t buy something just because it is a name or designer brand; make sure you love the piece and will wear it. More often than not, you will not wear it if you are buying it by name.

Remember, if you buy an item and it needs alterations, the alterations can cost two to three times what you paid. Choose wisely when buying a piece that needs to be altered.

The smaller thrift shops sometimes have the best buys.

ENJOY the hunt, and know that you may not always find something. Just keep going back when you find a thrift shop you love.

Merchandise is also very geographical, so go out of your own area, and you will be surprised at how different (in a good way) the merchandise is.

I have recently heard from many thrift store managers that people are dropping off unusable merchandise. Please know that some smaller thrift shops have to pay to have garbage hauled off. Please only drop off clean and in good condition items.

I hope you find these tips helpful.

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: TonionThrifting

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

The Turnover Shop in Wilton, Connecticut – I can’t wait to go back!

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/3 Comments

What makes The Turnover Shop different from other thrift shops is that they consign clothes as well as sell donated clothes. This makes The Turnover Shop a well-visited destination for thrift shop lovers. Located in the center of Wilton, CT, and open six days a week, Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM, it continually gains popularity and has a high turnover rate. They carry a full line of women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, shoes, antiques, housewares, games, books, jewelry, and small furnishings.

I went through racks and racks of clothing and found a beautiful sweater, jacket, and a couple of other household items, and I spent at most $30. They also happened to have a phenomenal sale, which made it easy. The shoe selection alone was too tempting, not to mention the jewelry and accessories. I know I was not alone because the store was crowded during my visit.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Sharon Sobel, the President of the Turnover Shop. She told me that what makes the Turnover Shop special is that customers who consign can donate the proceeds of their sales to a non-profit of their choice if that organization opens a consignment account to receive the funds. It is a great way to support a favorite local charity. The Turnover Shop donates proceeds from their store sales to many organizations, such as the PTA of Wilton, Visiting Nurse & Hospice, CT Humane Society, and ABC House, to name a few. All the volunteers love working at the Turnover Shop and look forward to their shifts there. I had a lovely visit with Sharon and saw the store. You can see that they have a very loyal customer base, and people are happy to shop there and are friendly with the staff.

Here is some history from their website: Founded over 75 years ago by a group of volunteers dedicated to serving the community’s needs, The Turnover has kept that tradition of service and generosity alive as we have evolved to help each generation. Our hard work reflects every lifestyle and fashion, and our current team of over 130 volunteers remains committed to the prospect of always being creative and innovative. Thousands of satisfied customers continue to validate their hard work.

A visit to the Turnover Shop should be on your must-see thrift shop list.

The Turnover Shop

98 Old Ridgefield Road

Wilton, CT 06897

Phone: 203.762.3160

Monday – Friday – 10 AM to 4 PM

Saturday – 10 AM to 1 PM

Women’s Club of White Plains – their pop-up sales are incredible!

November 27, 2022December 2, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

The Thrift Shop in White Plains had been in continuous operation since November 11, 1918. It had been the oldest thrift shop in New York State, possibly in the country. The idea of a Thrift Exchange, as it was called, grew out of the national desire to reuse and recycle items to aid the war effort. The original Thrift Exchange was held in the Tod Market on the corner of Court Street and Martine Avenue. The building is still in existence. In 1923 the Thrift Shop moved to a barn behind the old Preudhomme residence on Church Street. It remained at that location for 50 years until finally moving to its final place in the White Plains Presbyterian Church on North Broadway. The Shop was a 501c3 entity jointly owned by the Woman’s Club of White Plains, the Scarsdale Woman’s Club, and the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, with proceeds donated to local charities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thrift Shop of White Plains was forced to close its doors and was disbanded in 2022. The Woman’s Club of White Plains will continue the Thrift Shop of White Plains tradition and operate out of its clubhouse at 305 Ridgeway in White Plains. Credit: https://www.womansclubofwhiteplains.org/about.html

The Woman’s Club of White Plains has pop-ups throughout the year and a regular shopping day on Tuesdays from 10 am until 12 pm. Their next pop-up is on Saturday, December 3rd, from 9 am until 1 pm. The selections are all high quality and priced to sell. I cannot emphasize enough that these pop-ups are not to be missed. As for me, I have purchased some fantastic pieces that have become favorites in my wardrobe. Prices start at $4.00 (yes, $4.00) and upwards for the regular shop items, with high-end/boutique items more than reasonably priced. They also carry shoes, men’s and women’s winter clothing, and accessories. They have beautiful housewares and hosting serveware not to be missed. They will also be carrying high-end Christmas décor at the pop-up. The pictures shown are from one of their most recent pop-ups.

The volunteers are incredible, friendly, and helpful. They arrange areas for you to try on clothes (a major plus) and are devoted to raising money to help people in need in White Plains. I recently spoke to Judy Korman, Chair of the Thrift Shop and Marking, and I commend her on the great work the Woman’s Club of White Plains is doing and ALL the local charities that benefit from the work of these incredible women. Some of the previous recipients of their philanthropy include the White Plains Library, the YWCA, victims of domestic violence, and so many others.

There are also some fantastic and fun events to promote the thrift shop. They recently hosted a Sip & Swap where you can bring clothes and accessories to donate and take home donated items. They provide drinks and bites; if you are not a member, the great price is $10.00 for entry. I missed the last one but planned on being at the next one.

NEXT POP-UP – Saturday, December 3^rd

9 am until 1 pm

Woman’s Club of White Plains

305 Ridgeway

White Plains, New York 10605

(914) 948-0958

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day

August 16, 2022August 16, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day. We all know that I think it should be a national holiday. I love my thrift shopping – both shopping and writing about it. Why do people love thrift shopping? Why do I love thrift shopping? The thrill of the hunt is looking for that great find. The chance to create your style and make a fashion statement. The ability to save money by not shopping in expensive department stores. Secondhand and vintage clothes are better quality than today’s fast fashion. Even thrift stores have sales. Help your community by supporting local thrift shops that use their proceeds to help people in their communities. It gives you a chance to keep updating your wardrobe at reasonable prices. If you dislike a purchase, you can donate it right back.

Most importantly, by thrift shopping, you are saving the planet and keeping clothes out of landfills. These are just some of the reasons why we all love thrift shopping. I have been thrift shopping for over forty years, and it brings me great joy and is my passion. There is no better way to enjoy a few hours than by going to a thrift shop and just looking through all the racks hoping to find those unique pieces that I will buy and love for years to come.

Happy National Thrift Shop Day!!

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tonionthrifting/

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

The IFCA Thrift Shop in Ossining is delightful!

August 2, 2022August 17, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

The IFCA (Interfaith Council for Action) Thrift Shop in Ossining was a delightful surprise. They had a good selection, and the pricing was outstanding. $3.00 tee shirts and $4.00 for shirts/blouses, $5.00 for jeans and pants, $5.00 for handbags, $5 to $10 for jackets, $8 to $15 for dresses, baby, and children’s clothes, $1.50 to $3.00, shoes $2.50 and up. Household items can be found for anywhere between $1 to $35. The clothes and housewares were in excellent condition, and the selection was sizeable. I was impressed with the children’s section as they had a good selection and affordable pricing—the same for the jewelry, accessories, and linens.

The first IFCA thrift store opened approximately eight years ago on Spring Street in Ossining. The Thrift Shop moved to a larger space earlier this year at 95 Croton Avenue and is doing well. The store was busy while I was there. I spoke to Amy, the manager, and she said that there is a high turnover of merchandise, and I could see from the donations and sales that this is true. The store layout is open and easy to navigate, and the displays are appealing. They have an all-volunteer staff and are always looking for new volunteers to help with the shop and sorting donations.

Proceeds from the Thrift Shop fund IFCA’s community programs. IFCA was established in 1968 and provides a range of affordable housing development, property management, and supportive services to low and moderate-income people. IFCA owns and manages affordable apartments in Ossining and Tarrytown, NY. It is also a pioneer in developing transitional housing for the homeless, currently maintaining 16 units through Westchester County’s Emergency Housing Apartment Program (EHAP). Additionally, IFCA has adopted innovative community service programs to help hundreds of people beyond its tenant base, including financial literacy programs and job training. What better reasons do you need than to shop and help Ossining and the local communities? Bravo IFCA.

IFCA Thrift Shop

95 Croton Avenue
Ossining, NY 10562
Across the street from CTown

(914) 236-3000

thriftstore@ifcany.org

Store Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11 am to 4 pm.

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

Bring ‘n Buy – Great shopping and consigning made easy!

July 8, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

I spent a fun morning at Bring ‘n Buy. I went through each rack and had a blast doing it—incredible selections at very reasonable prices for such high-quality clothing. Every single piece of clothing was in pristine condition. All the high-end names everyone loves and wants right now are in the store plus the traditional brands as well. They carry everything from fast fashion to the classic pieces that every wardrobe needs. Her accessory collection is amazing and her handbag selection is one of the best that I have seen. Great shoe selection too.

The pictures will give you an idea of how well-stocked the store is. Check out the @bringnbuy Instagram page for a closer look at some of the great inventory in stock.

Bring ‘n Buy has been in business for 48 years. Tina Hassenstein, the owner, has been there for 29 years; before that was her mom. You can tell that Tina is well-loved by the community by the number of people that come in, some just stopping by to say hello. Tina loves what she does and would not want to do anything else. She is friends with many customers and loves seeing them outside the store. The outpouring of love that the customers showed Tina after her mom passed away stays with Tina every day.

I asked Tina about business during the pandemic, and she said that she was able to do personal shopping, delivery, and pick-up for her customers. Since the pandemic, Bring ‘n Buy has had many new customers as former New York City residents relocated to Ridgefield and surrounding areas. The store is busier than ever. According to Tina, the hottest item during the pandemic and now is designer bags and the demand does not seem to be waning.

Tina gives back to the community by donating all unsold items at the end of August to local charities. Well done, Tina!

Bring ‘n Buy also has personal shopping and closet clean-outs available. Call for information regarding consignment.

I highly recommend Bring ‘n Buy, it really is one of Connecticut’s best.

Bring ‘n Buy
590 Danbury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-438-7714
Sunday | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Monday | Closed
Tuesday thru Saturday | 10:00am – 5:00pm

**Check social media for weather closings closings

ToniOnThrifting