ToniOnThrifting

ToniOnThrifting – Thrift Shopping Made Simple

Fabulous Fashions and Consignments in Oxford, CT – what a wonderful surprise! — September 25, 2018

Fabulous Fashions and Consignments in Oxford, CT – what a wonderful surprise!

I came across Fabulous Fashions and Consignments in Oxford, Connecticut while I was on my way to visit family — what a wonderful surprise it was. It is stores like this that always surprise me the most. Jam packed with women’s clothing and accessories and a huge kitchen in the back filled with household goods. Great selections with plenty of good quality vintage. Actually the vintage pieces that I looked at were exceptional and priced accordingly. The day I was there, I came across some excellent sales. Summer shoes were $3.00, shorts and capris starting at $1.00, and dresses for $5.00. They carry the better labels in women’s clothing and all sizes including plus sizes. They have an extensive accessories department and one well worth visiting if you are in that area. The handbag selections were abundant and priced to sell.

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I absolutely loved the jewelry selection.

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I look forward to my next trip to see all their Fall fashions.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend!

Fabulous Fashions and Consignment
23 Oxford Rd., (Rte. 67)
Oxford, Connecticut 06478
(203) 828-6222

Hours:
Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday& Sunday 9 am – 3 pm

My Sister’s Place in Ansonia, CT – so much to tell and it’s all great! — August 15, 2018

My Sister’s Place in Ansonia, CT – so much to tell and it’s all great!

When I first walked in to My Sister’s Place in Ansonia, Connecticut it reminded me of just how much I love thrift shopping especially when it benefits those desperately in need. My Sister’s Place is not only a top-notch thrift store that has a GREAT selection of merchandise;  the best part is that all proceeds support BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.

There is so much to tell you about. First, the store.  All the merchandise is meticulously laid out which in itself is quite impressive. They have a wide variety of stock and it is all in size order which makes it even easier to shop and that much more enjoyable browsing. They have men, women, children’s clothing, and shoes. Also, they carry appliances, housewares, furniture, toys, and other items at more than fair prices. All merchandise is in new or nearly new condition. They carry both regular and high-end merchandise.  I did not see one item that I thought was overpriced and all pricing was in line for what the better thrift stores are charging.

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I hope that my pictures tell the story of what a great shop this is.

 

I was able to score two brand new One World tops with tags on for $12 each plus a brand spanking new Talbot’s sundress with tags on for ONLY $22 (retail tag was $129). Also, A long beige cardigan (new) for $10 and a couple other miscellaneous items, all at excellent prices. Now I don’t know about you, but we thrifters consider that a great haul!

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And you MUST check out their online store. https://supportumbrella.org/.  They have quite the selection. Never underestimate online thrift stores, there are always good surprises especially for collectors! They are on Ebay too at ebay.com/usr/mysistersplace203

And now for the fun info:

My Sister’s Place is having Flea Market Flip on October 14, 2018 where you can meet Mark DeVito, Master Craftsman from HGTV’s Flea Market Flip!

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My Sister’s Place Flea Market Flip is a fun, creative twist on recycling or upcycling similar to the HGTV show with the same name, Flea Market Flip. Proceeds from each item will be benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services. Individual participants or teams of two must purchase their flip item(s) at MSP for $50 or less by September 30. Registration forms are available at the store and must be completed at the time of purchase. No more than $50 may be spent on repurposing/upcycling the item(s). Receipts must be shown when submitting the repurposed item. The Flea Market Flip Rules are on their website at http://bhcare.org/page/29568.
October 14, 2018
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Ansonia Armory
25 N Cliff Street
Ansonia, CT

The proceeds from My Sister’s Place go to The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services (UCDVS) which is dedicated to increasing awareness of domestic violence and its effect on the community, empowering those victimized by providing advocacy and safe and effective services, and to working for social change to eliminate domestic violence. UCDVS provides services for victims and their children at two sites located in Ansonia and East Haven. All services offered are free of charge and confidential. Services support 170 different languages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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PLEASE — when you are in the Ansonia area, you must stop in, I promise it will be worth it and I hope you enjoy your visit as much as I enjoyed mine. The staff is phenomenal — all volunteers and for such a worthy cause.

My Sister’s Place is located at 380 Main Street, Ansonia, CT.
Phone:
203-734-2960
Store Hours:
Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. & Sat – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sun. – 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Here is the website which has even more information – http://bhcare.org/page/16633

If you enjoyed this blog, please like my Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/tonionthrifting/

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Fantastic Finds – Everything Old is New Again …and Worth a Look! — May 29, 2018

Fantastic Finds – Everything Old is New Again …and Worth a Look!

Everything old is new again! The old Discovery Shop in Chappaqua was good but I must say that I am enjoying its reincarnation all the more. I stepped into Fantastic Finds and it certainly lives up to its name. A 75% off Fall clothing sale was going on when I visited. I walked out with a couple of great buys; a pair of Talbot’s pants for $5 and a Tahari dress/duster for $7.50 plus a couple of other staples. But even without the sale, this is definitely one of the better upscale resale shops in the Westchester/Putnam area.  They carry men’s and women’s clothing, jewelry, scarves, handbags and other accessories. I think they have a excellent selection of brand name merchandise with some high end merchandise as well. Their Spring collection was excellent. They also carry household items such as small accent furniture, housewares, china (quite beautiful too), home décor, and musical instruments. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the art. Actually, I had a great time browsing through the store, there was just so much to see.

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As far as pricing, I find it comparable and slightly cheaper than other UPSCALE shops that are similar to Fantastic Find.  All the merchandise is in PRISTINE condition and there are certainly gift quality selections to be found. I hope that the pictures tell a much better story of what Fantastic Finds is all about!

 

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What is wonderful is that all proceeds from sales at Fantastic Finds will benefit Support Connection, an organization that provides free, year-round breast and ovarian cancer support services. They rely on your donations to provide free programs and support services. 88¢ of every dollar donated goes directly to fund these critically needed services.

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Check out Fantastic Finds – I promise it’s worth the trip!

Fantastic Finds

400 King Street (former site of the Discovery Shop)

Chappaqua, NY

Phone:           914-238-9200

Email:             fantastic.finds@supportconnection.org

Shopping Hours:

Monday – Saturday 10 am – 4:30 pm.

Until next time,  Happy Shopping!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yorktown Love In Action – 10,000 square feet of thrifting and so much more…. — March 14, 2018

Yorktown Love In Action – 10,000 square feet of thrifting and so much more….

I am excited to tell you about my visit to Yorktown Love in Action. Let’s start with the 10,000 square feet of thrifting heaven – if you have patience, like in all thrift shopping, there are plenty of deals to be found here. The first floor holds furniture, household, collectibles and LOTS of it. The second floor has men, women and children’s clothing and shoes. Also on the second floor are tools, seasonal décor, and linens to name a few. They have separate rooms for the holiday décor and tools. The  majority of their clothing are name brands and the selections endless. What won me over is that some tags are labeled “MD” which means that the ticketed price is the suggested minimum donation. This is helpful for those struggling financially so that they are able to shop at affordable prices. That is quite impressive.  I am finding out that YLIA always thinks of others.

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YLIA is definitely worth a trip not just to browse through the 10,000 square feet but to also help a phenomenal organization. They even have a sitting room where you can rest up and then continue shopping 🙂

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YLIA’s  mission is to help members of Westchester and Putnam communities who need temporary assistance due to unforeseen life events.   I am sure they help more individuals and families than we will ever know about because YLIA does so with grace and dignity.  They value and maintain the privacy of those they help and I admire YLIA for that. THANK YOU YLIA!

Donations are needed for YLIA – check out the YLIA website for donation information and look over what is or isn’t accepted.  YLIA is looking for volunteers as well so if you live in the Westchester/ Putnam area, this is a great place to volunteer. If interested, you can also become an individual or business sponsor.

I respect  YLIA and what they do. I will be heading back with a backseat full of donations that will hopefully help. I want to be able to say thank you for all they do for others.

This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Yorktown Love In Action

1736 Front Street

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

Telephone – 914.490.3966

Email – info@yorktownliveinaction.com

Check out their Facebook page as well!

Store Hours:

Sunday                                 12 pm – 5 pm

Monday – Saturday        10 am – 6 pm

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!

 

 

 

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe and Thrift Shop in SoHo — November 21, 2017

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe and Thrift Shop in SoHo

One thing that you can count on with Housing Works is that they always carry above average merchandise. But what makes this Housing Works on Crosby Street in SoHo even better than most (if not the best) is the Housing Works Bookstore Café next door. If you have never been to the Housing Works Bookstore Café, I strongly suggest that you check it out. It is an absolutely wonderful bookstore with a great vibe. It is such a popular spot in SoHo but for all the right reasons – atmosphere – the books – the beauty of the mahogany walls – and of course, the café. They serve coffee, snacks and some light alcohol. The café won me over with the vegetarian options. Well done! If you are lucky enough to get a table (more often than not, you will)), you can sit back and flip through one of the thousands of mostly pristine condition books that they carry. They have a book special the first weekend of the month where books are 30% off which is a steal considering the books are already reasonably priced. And if you are a Housing Works member, you can add on another 10% off – who could ask for anything more.  Did I mention that the staff is phenomenal – welcoming, helpful and overflowing with graciousness and professionalism! I can’t say enough about this bookstore including the fact that all proceeds benefit the homeless and those affected by HIV/AIDS in NYC.

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Now for the Housing Works Thrift Store, I think they carry an above average variety of merchandise. The store is well organized and the displays are always nicely done. The staff is amazingly friendly and helpful. Also, the staff is honest when you ask opinions which I appreciate. I enjoyed looking through the selections and they do carry an array of sizes. My only wish is that they had more selections the day I was in but I figure they just sell out merchandise as soon as they stock it because of the popularity and location of this store.

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When it comes to accessories, in my humble opinion, I find that Housing Works carries the best jewelry. I have found some amazing pieces on my visits to various Housing Works. Not too long ago I found a pair of Elsa Perretti Tiffany sterling silver teardrop earrings that were an ABSOLUTE steal at $75 and a gorgeous choker for $10.00 at the Ninth Ave Housing Works. On this visit to SoHo, I found fun sparkly earrings 🙂 in a $2 basket that have become one of my favorites. I believe all merchandise in the windows is sold through online auctions.

The bottom line is that Housing Works may be a bit more expensive but it is worth it if you find something you love of good quality.

In case you are interested, here is the information on a membership with Housing Works:

https://www.housingworks.org/donate/membership

Housing  Works Bookstore Cafe
126 Crosby Street
New York, NY
(212) 334-3324
Monday – Friday  – 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday – Sunday – 10 am – 5 pm

Housing Works Thrift Shop
130 Crosby Street
New York, NY
(646) 786-1200
Monday – Saturday – 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday – 11 am – 5 pm

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!

 

Attic Sale Recap 2017 & Another Blockbuster Sale Coming Up In Irvington — September 29, 2017

Attic Sale Recap 2017 & Another Blockbuster Sale Coming Up In Irvington

Once again, the Irvington Presbyterian Church Attic Sale did not disappoint.   This year I did exceptionally well for myself and I will give credit to the fact that I went on the first day of the sale (my first time) which may have made the difference. But then again, I have also done well when going on the second day when pricing is much better and there are still great selections.  Some of the items in my haul were a Lands End turtleneck for $4.00, a Kenneth Cole black wrap dress, a See by Chloe funky dress (I am loving it), a Marc by Marc Andrew tunic/dress – and each dress was $10.00. All the clothes were in pristine condition.  Talk about steals; it was a great score.  I did focus on the clothing FIRST. I took my time and went through the racks which were incredibly organized as is the entire sale. They have designated areas for furniture, books, shoes/handbags, jewelry/crystal, fine china, accessories and so much more. I scored a special edition Barney’s Lady Gag tote bag which is just gorgeous at the unbelievable price of $5 – YES $5. I just had to buy for my equally gorgeous niece who I know would love it. I just have to tell you that this sale is packed and there was always a line to get into the handbag room and the jewelry room – it really is growing in popularity every year for both sale lovers and collectors. I can’t emphasize it enough – this is a really great sale that should not be missed if you love these kinds of sales. All proceeds benefit multiple worthy charities in the Westchester area so all the money is helping others!

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Tote bag from Barney’s
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See by Chloe

If you missed the Attic Sale, the good news is that right next door to the Irvington Presbyterian Church is the Church of St. Barnabas. And….wait for it….St Barnabas is having their Fall Outreach Clothing Sale starting on Tuesday, November 7th. I have been to this sale as well and all I can say is these sales are both equally phenomenal and not to be missed. This sale includes fall/winter clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children – they also have a Christmas room and food is served in the café. The main purpose of this sale is to raise money to support the outreach efforts of the parish. Over the past twenty-plus years St. Barnabas has donated over $726,000 to charitable organizations throughout the area.

Here are the details:

The Church of St. Barnabas

15 N. Broadway, Irvington, New York

Telephone 914.591.8194

Tuesday November 7th through Friday, November 10th from 10 am until 7 pm

Saturday, November 11th from 10 am until 4 pm

Sunday, November 12th from 12 from 12 pm until 4 pm

See you at the sale!!

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Hudson Street in the West Village has one of NYC’s best thrift shops! — August 29, 2017

Hudson Street in the West Village has one of NYC’s best thrift shops!

Tucked away on Hudson Street in the West Village is by far, one of the best thrift shops in New York City. I feel exceptionally confident making this statement. This place is PHENOMENAL – the selections are top-notch and high quality. The prices may be higher than some other thrift shops but I can assure you, you are getting exceptional merchandise. They have a section called the “Posh Tree” where they have top designer merchandise for women  – the great thing about this section is that they rotate onto the “regular” racks after a certain amount of time so you will see some pretty cool offerings in both sections.  The men’s section is well above average and there is definitely a great selection of suits and shirts. The household items and home décor are placed all around the store and are pretty standard for thrift shops with a very good amount of standouts. The jewelry selection is very eclectic and fun to go through. The accessories are extraordinary and not to be missed even if just browsing. Tom Ford. Louis Vuitton, Gucci are just a few names I came across.

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On the Saturday when I went, it was half off clothing so I was able to get a Michael Kors poncho top for $12, a bedazzled tunic for $9 and a gorgeous scarf for $9. Now I see on their Facebook page that on Saturday, September 9th they are having their End of Season Bag Sale. Fill a bag with clothing, shoes, handbags, belts, hats….all for $25. PLUS SPECIAL ONE DAY ONLY : ALL JEWELRY HALF PRICE – this is one sale that I promise I will not miss.  Filling a bag with this kind of merchandise will be an absolute pleasure and one of the reasons why I love thrift shopping.

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Overall, this is definitely in my top five thrift shops of all time.

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All proceeds from purchases at St. Luke’s Thrift Shop help to support St. Luke’s community service programs.  Please read about St. Luke’s rich history on the website. www.stlukeinthefields.org

St. Luke’s Thrift Shop

The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields

487 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

(212) 924-9364

Hours:

Monday – Friday              11am – 6pm

Saturday                              10am – 6pm

Sunday                                 CLOSED

Until next time, Happy Shopping!!

August 17th is National Thrift Shopping Day — August 16, 2017

August 17th is National Thrift Shopping Day

August 17th is National Thrift Shopping Day.  Most thrift stores celebrate with  significant discounts.

Why shop at thrift stores? According to the U.S. EPA, a whopping 85% of all discarded textiles – 13 million – end up in landfills every year.  Plus textiles and decomposing clothing release methane, not to mention the dyes and chemicals in the fabrics that can saturate the soil. Let’s recycle folks, donate to local thrift shops, your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, Humane Society, local hospital or church thrift shops– there are so many GREAT charities that NEED your donations. The money that these charities raise through their thrift shops help countless others gain a better quality of life and protect out little four legged friends. I think that is one of the best reasons to donate along with reducing our carbon footprint. Plus think of all the people that are able to clothe themselves and their families at a deeply discounted price. I think it is a win-win.

I just happen to LOVE thrift shopping for so many reasons. I love helping the environment and I like trying new styles at a fraction of the cost – if I don’t like it, I just wash the clothes and donate them right back. The key to thrift shopping is patience. If you have some time and go through the racks, you would be surprised at what you can find. You can’t go to a thrift shop think I need a little black dress and expect to find one in one visit BUT if you go to the RIGHT thrift shops, you may just find one. For example, I always say if you want something formal or fancy, try City Opera and Vintage Thrift East in the 23rd St area of NYC. With these two stores, there is a good chance especially with a freshly stocked store – you can put together a great outfit. If you are in the Connecticut area, Stamford Goodwill is one of my favorites as well, their dress section is fabulous. Don’t be afraid to ask when they put out the “new” stock – it sometimes is Wednesday/Thursday in preparation for the weekend. I am also learning to create my own styles. I once found a beautiful black ankle length sequined duster and I paired it with straight legged pants and a clingy top and I received oodles of compliments and it was something that I might not have necessarily worn in prior years. It ended up being a favorite outfit for special occasions.

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Life is complicated and chaotic at times and I find when I go thrift shopping I get such enjoyment out of finding that very special addition to my wardrobe at quite the price. I find it calming and relaxing and a great way to emerge myself in something that brings me great joy.  I have also met some pretty incredible people along the way.

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I look forward to telling you about my thrift shop visits – I have visited quite a few over the summer and I can’t wait to share my findings with you.

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!

TonionThrifting914

St. Thomas’ Church Thrift Shop and Mamaroneck Farmers Market — April 13, 2017

St. Thomas’ Church Thrift Shop and Mamaroneck Farmers Market

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I thoroughly enjoy my trips to St. Thomas’ Church Thrift Shop not just for the plentiful thrift shop but also for the Farmers Market. Let’s start with the thrift shop; it is a treasure trove of clothing, books and tons of household. There are a lot a fabulous finds —- if you practice one of the golden rules of thrifting which is patience. I found my most favorite sweater there – J Crew and for $5.00!! They have tables piled high with all top brand sweaters like Ralph Lauren, Talbots, Banana Republic and more. In the men’s department I have seen Brooks Brothers sweaters. They have pants, jeans, tops, polos, jackets, suits, etc. The fabulous volunteers are always restocking the merchandise when I am there. I must say, it seems to get better and better. The prices are exceptionally reasonable. I have not seen anything that I would consider overpriced or even close to it.

I bought my favorite glassware there ($1.00 each). The bedding seems to be very popular from what I have seen on the checkout line. I think the housewares/household section gets some very nice items but they fly off the shelves (like all good thrift stores). I know that when I found my glasses, they had just put them out so I was exceptionally lucky.

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The book section is abundant with every book imaginable. The coffee table books are above average. I was able to buy my brother two coffee table books on trains (his passion) for $5.00 each during the book sale. I consider that reasonable for coffee table books considering the books were in excellent condition and retailed for $65 plus. Their selection of art books was impressive as well as their cookbooks selection.

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And for the finale, you must stop in the Farmers Market upstairs. While not extensive, it is incredible. They have excellent quality fruits and vegetables, the breads absolutely delish and the pies/cakes/muffins scrumptious. They have a dumpling station sells out of the vegetable dumplings quick (yummy).

One of the main reasons why I love this market is that they also carry my most favorite salad dressing of all time (yes, all time). Momo Ginger dressing made in Brooklyn. I just love it. The Momo reps are only there every other week so I have to time my visits. 🙂

There are a lot of reasons to go to this thrift shop – I suggest you go and don’t miss the Farmers Market.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

168 West Boston Road

(at the corner of Mt. Pleasant Ave.)

Mamaroneck, NY 10543

914.698.0300

Wednesday  10am – 1 pm

Saturday        10am – 1 pm

Farmer’s Market on Saturday’s 9 am – 1 pm

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Scarsdale Congregational Church – Big Clothing Sale This Saturday! — March 9, 2017

Scarsdale Congregational Church – Big Clothing Sale This Saturday!

The Scarsdale Congregational Church is having a HUGE clothing sale this Saturday, March 11th starting at 9 am.  I can assure you that the line will start forming at 8 am if not sooner. I called to confirm because of the weather and it is happening!!! This sale is right up there with the Attic Sale (one of my most favorite sales of all time) – and in my humble opinion, not to be missed!!!   Unlike the May Garage Sale and the November Fair, there is no $5 entry fee. They absolutely could charge an entry fee if they wished, this sale is that good. There are fixed (and very low) prices on clothing by category (men, women and children). I can assure you there will be plenty of high end designer clothing in pristine condition and very reasonably priced! The lovely volunteers give you a large plastic bag to hold your findings until you go up to the front and check out. Everyone is wonderful and it makes for a very enjoyable and successful clothing sale for both buyers and seller. I thoroughly enjoyed my shopping experience last year and I am looking forward to Saturday! Run, don’t walk to this sale!

Future sales at The Scarsdale Congregational are:

Garage Sale    Saturday, May 6, 2017                                    9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Fair                    Saturday, November 4, 2017                       9:00 am – 3:00 pm

In case you live in the Scarsdale area and want to donate for future sales, here are the rules (taken from the website):

  • We gladly accept donations of art, furniture (by appointment), estate items, jewelry, house wares, books, clothing, toys, linens and electronics*.
  • Donations,  must be clean, working and in very good condition. Clothing must be in season for the coming sale, (i.e. we are currently accepting spring and summer clothing only).
  • Kindly place all donations behind the partition on our Office Building Porch at 1 Heathcote Rd., Scarsdale between mid-August through the end of October, & mid-February through the end of April.
  • We do NOT accept dated technology,* skis, children’s car seats, videotapes, textbooks,  magazines or encyclopedias.
  • Furniture is NOT accepted on the porch. Please contact contact Colin at colinnewyork@gmail.com . Jewelry is accepted in the church office year-round.
  • Pick up your signed tax receipt in the box  on the left side railing of the Office Building Porch,  after dropping off your donation.
  • Call the office at 723-2111, extension 204, or e-mail us .

Church volunteers and staff have had to spend a lot of time dealing with unwanted donations, and we very much appreciate your help in complying with these donation rules.

*     Technology donation rules:

Televisions: LCD or Plasma Flat screen only.
Fax machines or copiers: NOT accepted.
Computers: Windows based systems must be Windows 8 or 10. Mac computers must be flat-screen iMacs, Mac Pros, Mac Minis, Macbooks or Macbook Pros only.
Monitors:  LCD or plasma flat panel only.
Printers:  Laser printers in working condition. New ink jet printers only.
Scanners:  USB scanners only.

Scarsdale Congregational Church
One Heathcote Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583

Phone: 914-723-2111

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!!