Thrifting Tips with Volunteers of America and 614 Mom
Every time I hop on social media there is someone talking about how they are cleaning our their closets or doing a deep clean of their house to try and minimalize. I get it - our house is full of clothing my kids have outgrown, household items we no longer need, and toys that my kids were given as presents that they never played with. I’m always trying to find the best organization to donate our gently used items (and sometimes new items) but to be honest it’s been hard to figure out exactly which option is the best.
After a lot of research I’ve found that Volunteers of America is the best place for us to donate our items. Volunteers of America (VOA) is a nonprofit dedicated to helping people in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Established in 1896 they have helped support different community groups including veterans, homeless individual and families, low income seniors, men and women coming home from incarceration and those recovering from addiction.
In Central Ohio they focus on veterans, housing, and community enrichment. There are many ways you can help support Volunteers of America in Central Ohio and one of those ways is through their thrift stores.
By donating and shopping you are helping them raise money to serve people and communities in need. In Columbus there are four different stores to shop from with unique finds in every shop.
I know thrifting can be overwhelming sometimes - what should I look for, where is the best store, what days are the best day for me to go, etc. I’ve done a lot of research and talked to an expert in the field to share those tips with you. Do you have a thrifting tip? Drop them in the comments below so I can add them to the list! :)
Thrifting Tips
· On the last Tuesday of the month, everything in the store is 50% off.
· Every Monday, veterans and Golden Buckeye card holders get 10% off.
· Every day there are three sale tag colors and items with those sale tags are wither 25%, 50% or 75% off.
· They add over 40,000 fresh items onto the sales floor each week
· Approximately 80% of the sales floor is $1.99 and under.
· Clothing is sorted by color because of sizing differences among clothing brands.
· They have fitting rooms at all of the thrift stores
· Bring a paper outline of your kid’s shoe size to pull out when you find a pair of shoes your kids might like.
· Remove your hangers while waiting in line to speed up check out
· Bring your own reusable bag or rolling cart, especially on sale day when it can get crowded
· Shop with a buddy. They can help you find things you might’ve missed
· They are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization where every dollar you spend goes to help serve people and communities in need.
· When you get home, you can remove the price markings from items by using nail polish remover, Goo Gone, rubbing alcohol or WD-40.
Schedule a free home pickup of stuff you no longer want by calling Volunteers of America at 1-800-873-4505 emailing askthrift@voago.org or going online. You can also drop off donations at any of their thrift stores or in a donation drop box in your area. Your donations are tax-deductible and they are happy to give you a tax receipt.
