2023-10-17T17:50:07-04:00

The Dos and Don’ts of Thrift Shop Donations

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

Knowing the dos and don’ts is essential if you plan to donate to a thrift shop. This will ensure that your donation is helpful and appreciated rather than discarded. Here are some guidelines to help you maximize your donation and benefit those in need.

This is just a general guide meant to help you when making donations to thrift stores. You can best call the thrift store to check precisely what they do and do not accept. In most instances, it is also posted on the thrift store website. The smaller thrift stores have limited hours, so when dropping off, always check first.

I hope you find these tips helpful.

Please do not leave donations in front/back/side of a thrift store out in the inclement weather; it automatically makes the donations unusable, and in large donations like furniture, it can cost a smaller thrift store a fortune to have these items removed. I have heard several stories of mattresses being left and broken furniture, only to have the thrift shop dip into their funds to have items like this removed. Please remember that small not-for-profit thrift stores donate their money back to their communities.

Large donations should be coordinated to ensure a smooth acceptance process, so it is best to call the thrift shop beforehand.

When donating clothing and shoes, please ensure they are clean and usable. No tears, smells, or stains. If it is costume jewelry, it should be ready to wear and not rusty or broken. The same goes for small household appliances; ensure it has all parts and is in working condition. Make sure all bric-a-brac is not chipped or cracked. The critical rule is, would you give the item to someone you care about?

Additionally, wrap any glass, crystal, or breakable in a newspaper so that the person handling it does not get hurt should the item get damaged in transit.

Cosmetics, toiletries, and perfume are generally a no and definitely not if the product has been used.

The best advice I can give you is to call the thrift shop first; it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Check out my Facebook page for local New York/Connecticut sales and some great articles/news on thrifting and sustainability.

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 Briarcliff Congregational Church Rummage Sale on April 29th

April 18, 2023April 18, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

The Briarcliff Congregational Church Rummage Sale is growing in popularity by leaps and bounds. Every year attendance is more than the year before, and they expect this year to be no exception. The line starts forming well before 8 am for the 9 am start.

I spoke to Penny Wolf, the President of Briarcliff Congregational Church Women’s Society, which runs the Rummage Sale along with Janet Moulton and Helen Buerger, part of the Rummage Team, which organizes all aspects of getting the sale off the ground. Preparations start three to four months in advance, and it takes a whole week (and numerous volunteers) just to set up the space for the one-day sale.

The main floor is men, women, and children’s clothing. All items on the floor are under ten dollars and under and many, even less. They have a separate boutique section for shoes and handbags. They have a Nearly New Women’s Room with high-end clothing, and those prices are more than reasonable for designer merchandise. They have an incredibly popular jewelry section in their own room, and this year there will be more sterling silver than ever. Toy and games are back this year and are always a big hit. There is a separate room for linens, including comforters, blankets, curtains, and much more. They also have another room for fine China and collectibles. There is a white elephant tent sale outside with small furniture and household items.

The community comes together for this sale with many volunteers, and they have become known as the “Rummage Angels.” These volunteers show up year after year, and they now bring along a friend or family member, so the group is growing and much appreciated by the Rummage Team.

All proceeds benefit the church and community members in need of help. The proceeds also benefit many local charities, including IFCA (Interfaith Council for Action), New Beginnings, Juvenile Diabetes, Hope’s Door, and Hudson Valley Hospice, to name a few.

Helen provided me with pictures from last year’s sale to show you how big this sale is. I know I will be there this year, and I look forward to becoming a volunteer. I think this is going to be one incredible sale! Don’t miss it!

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2023

9 am-4 pm Briarcliff Congregational Church

South State Road at Pleasantville Road

Briarcliff Manor, New York

914-941-4368

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

The New Canaan Thrift Shop is nothing short of amazing!

August 26, 2022December 20, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

The New Canaan Thrift Shop is remarkable, impressive, and unique in many ways. It is not just impressive because I found one of my all-time favorite bargains ($65), a Pottery Barn bedspread for a fraction of the cost. The quilt was something I had wanted for a while but was not willing to spend the $300 to buy it new. It was in excellent, nearly new condition, and I am thrilled with this purchase. It is also remarkable because every time I go there, The New Canaan Thrift Shop has a wide variety of merchandise that is nothing short of amazing. I commend the volunteers on the eye-catching displays and the boutique feel of the shop.

They have three levels and carry men’s, women’s, shoes, teens, children’s, babies, and toddlers’ clothes. They have an office section, a pet corner, luggage, linens, housewares and beautiful crystal, dinnerware, and serveware. Their clothes are reasonably priced for the names that you are getting. They carry Vineyard Vines, McLaughlin, Tory Burch, Coach, Ralph Lauren, and many other high-quality clothing brands, and their sales are great.

They have a fantastic selection of toys, games, puzzles, and children’s books. Their unique sports section contains golf clubs, skis, snowboards, lacrosse sticks, tennis racquets, ice skates, and other sports equipment – all good quality for a fraction of what you would pay in a sporting goods store.

What is impressive about the New Canaan Thrift Shop is that all the proceeds support the patient care Fund of Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, a member of the Waveny Lifecare Network. As someone whose family used hospice when my mom was sick, I know how incredible, compassionate, and kind the hospice community is. I am in awe of the New Canaan Thrift Shop for supporting and helping their community with their proceeds. While at the thrift shop, I was happy to meet with Stella Clarke, the Executive Director of Community Engagement and Volunteering. Stella is an extraordinary woman devoted to the Waveny Care Network and its mission to help families at the most challenging time of their lives. I commend Stella, Ulrike (Store Manager), and all the dedicated volunteers I met.

The history of the New Canaan Thrift Shop is fascinating. While 2 Locust Ave is not its original location, the building they are in now has quite a history. It was constructed in 1840 by prohibitionist Joseph Scofield. He wanted to lease the building to the Young Men’s Total Abstinence Society. That did not work as planned, as the movement did not go very far. And in 1856, Scofield sold the building to Russell Hall, who sold coffins and furniture, and for years, it was known as “The Old Morgue,” as it is historically known in New Canaan. The building was sold, and fast forward to 1928 when the building was sold to the Veterans Club. In 1930, The Visiting Nurse Association volunteer Thrift Shop was founded to raise funds to support the charitable mission by selling used clothing. So here we are almost a hundred years later, and they are still going strong and more vital than ever.

The New Canaan Thrift Shop is well worth a visit!

New Canaan Thrift Shop (https://www.loc8nearme.com/connecticut/new-canaan/new-canaan-thrift-shop/7027323/)

2 Locust Ave.

New Canaan, CT 06840

(203) 966-2361

Monday to Friday 12 pm – 4 pm

Saturday 9 am – 1 pm

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!!

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!

Katonah Thrift Shop is always a good choice when thrift shopping in Westchester!

June 26, 2022June 26, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

The Katonah Thrift Shop is an excellent Westchester thrift shop circuit stop. They have a good selection of clothes, and the inventory is continually updated. I have a blast walking around and looking at the other items—fabric, light fixtures, antiques, and much more. I bought a gorgeous silver picture frame there the last visit for the meager price of $2.00. It was in perfect condition and went with my décor well. I enjoy looking through the housewares, and I have previously purchased some unique serving pieces that I love.

I spent my visit poring through the racks for this blog. Their selection of clothing is good and the prices reasonable. Both men’s and women’s and all sizes. The women’s section is more extensive and has a nice selection of formal and informal dresses. Their accessory section has various bags, scarves, belts, etc. The displays are well done. I am always pleasantly surprised to find some vintage clothing, among many other treasures.

The Katonah Women’s Civic Club runs the Katonah Thrift Shop. The thrift shop is in the basement of the beautiful historic Memorial House on Bedford Road. Currently, the thrift store is managed by Joan Kachmarik, Ursula Martin, and Bobbi Stanton and is fully staffed by members of the Civic Club. All proceeds from the thrift shop go to the Katonah Women’s Civic Club, established in 1918, and are distributed to numerous community organizations – too many to mention. While there, they had so many donation drop-offs that I could not get all the volunteers together for a photo.

I spoke to Bobbi Stanton (pictured), one of the managers, and she told me that she loves when the oldies are playing and sees people dancing and bopping in the store – Bobbi said it makes her happy and the shopping more fun for customers. She said that all the members love working there, and the thrift shop has a very loyal following with many returning customers.

Well worth a stop and highly rated, the Katonah thrift Shop is worth a visit if you haven’t been and a return visit if you have. You can follow KTS on Facebook.

The Katonah Thrift Shop

71 Bedford Road (next to the Firehouse)

Katonah, NY 10536

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 am until 2 pm

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!!

ToniOnThrifting