Thrift Stores with a Purpose

This week’s Hand Me Down is dedicated to two organizations that have swept the nation with used clothes for a cause: The Salvation Army and Goodwill.

Both of these non-profit organizations make up a large portion of the thrift stores in the neighborhood, and they are well known for their charity work.

When you bring in or purchase anything from Goodwill thrift shops, you are donating directly to Goodwill Industries International, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the skills and resources necessary for finding and securing employment.

Goodwill offers an array of services aimed directly at people who have trouble finding employment, including language and cultural classes for recent immigrants, specialized training and assistive technology for people with disabilities, preparatory training for adolescents, as well as job support, assistance, and training for veterans, seniors and people with criminal backgrounds.

If you or someone you know could benefit from these resources, encourage them to visit Goodwill For You for more information. In the mean time, bring your gently used items into into your local Goodwill store, and remember to keep buying new (used) ones!

The Salvation Army differs from Goodwill in that it has a religious affiliation. But you can benefit from their services whether you are a part of the church or not. They do state on their website that their mission is to "preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

Though the Salvation Army has at times been under scrutiny for its somewhat forceful missionary work, it also has been essential in providing temporary shelter, food, clothes, counseling and health assistance to those in need.

While it also is well-known for its relief efforts for major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami in 2004, proceeds from the Salvation Army Thrift Stores generally are used to help fund social programs.

In Bed-Stuy, there is the Goodwill at 1102 Fulton Street, near the corner of Franklin Avenue -- a gigantic store that has everything, from shoes to dishware to dresses and handbags. The staff is helpful and available to assist you in finding whatever bizarre gem you are looking for (a basketball hoop? A George Foreman Grill?), and there are two fitting rooms to try on clothes.

My favorite Salvation Army in Bed-Stuy is located at 22 Quincy Street near Classon Avenue. It looks like nothing from the front - you walk through a hidden door and up two flights of stairs with no markings before arriving at a warehouse complete with clothes, kitchenware, furniture and accessories. 

There is no dressing room, so I usually wear leggings and a tight shirt so that I can properly try on the clothes. At both of these locations, you are sure to find something worthy of bringing home.

Other locations in Brooklyn near Bed-Stuy are:

• Goodwill Retail Store and Donation Center: 258 Livingston Street (near Bond Street)
• Salvation Army Thrift Store: 176 Bedford Avenue (and North 7th Street)
• Salvation Army Thrift Store: 436 Atlantic Avenue (between Bond and Nevins)