Resale shops remake empty retail spaces as consumers reshape buying habits…
- The Chicago Tribune (April 7, 2011)
Through the creative thinking of a few Board members and staff of the Frisbie Senior Center, the idea of a “Garage Sale” fundraiser was tossed around and acted upon in an effort to caitalize on a vacant storefront in the Cumberland Commons shopping center. In the months of February an
d March 2009, donations were accepted, items were cleaned up, and displays were arranged – all in anticipation of April 24 -26, 2009. After an exhausting three days, over $5,000 was raised and the event was deemed a success. Periodically, after additional donations were accepted and sorted, the store was opened for customers to peruse the inventory. This started with being open a few days a month, evolved into a couple of day per week, and now the store is open 6 days per week. Not only was the vacant space filled, but all the proceeds generated by the store are reinvested locally to support programs and activities offered through the Frisbie Senior Center. Thrift (also known as secondhand or resale) shops are certainly one of the most successful “recycling” methods of our time. Of course, that’s because they’re really about reuse, which is one step ahead of recycling. And because they benefit so many people without requiring a lot of sacrifice on the part of anyone, you really can’t find a better option for giving still-usable items a second life than donating them to a charity you support. You get your old but still perfectly nice jacket out of the closet, someone else gets to buy it cheap and be thrilled with it, and the cause you believe in gets a financial boost. And in many cases, people get work sorting, cleaning, fixing, and selling your stuff, Oh, and you get a tax deduction. How many “wins” is that? You will receive a receipt acknowledging your donation to use for tax purposes. Extremely large donations may require special accommodations – please call in advance. All proceeds generated by the Once & Again Resale shop benefit the Frisbie Senior Center and the extensive programs and services offered to its members and the community-at-large. If you’d like to volunteer your time/services or learn more about our organization, give us a call…
