Thrift stores seen as treasure troves

Layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts and inflation can put a dent in personal budgets.

Maybe that's why some folks are discovering what die-hard thrift shoppers have long known: That thrift stores sell a plethora of quality used and surplus merchandise at bargain prices.

A woman in search of a new-to-her dress and shoes for a special night may just find those items for about $10 at a thrift shop. A gently used little black dress for $4.99 and a pair of like-new black sequined high heel pumps for $5 were recently spotted at The Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center on Catalina Drive.

Across the street at Goodwill, a black bauble necklace for $2.99 would have completed the ensemble.

Everything from clothing, shoes and jewelry to computers, toys and furniture is available at local thrift stores.

Prices range anywhere from a few cents for books to a few hundred dollars for bedroom sets, and with sales days that drive prices even lower, thrift stores are attracting new customers who are finding they can get more holler for their dollar at the secondhand treasure troves.

“With the economy the way it is right now, we have first-time secondhand shoppers coming in telling us this is the first time they have ever thought of shopping in a thrift store,” said Dorothy Toney, manager at Hospice of Yuma Thrift Shop.

Upon entering the store, new customers are often thrilled to find such a variety of quality items at low prices, she said.

“We have lots of clothing, home décor, a furniture showroom,” Toney said. “Right now we have a power electric wheelchair, a mobile scooter, a piano and a solid oak executive desk.”

Sandra Stephens, a first-time customer, recently purchased a walker for $12. Stephens checked out the thrift shop on the advice of staff at a local rehabilitation hospital, who later told her a new walker like the one she purchased would have cost about $80 brand-new.

Likewise, Toney said a three-wheel mobile scooter, which is priced at $600, would probably sell for about $3,000 to $4,000 brand-new.

Like other thrift stores in the area, the shop also sells used sports and exercise equipment. “We have a sports/medical room,” Toney quips. “People get hurt playing sports, so we have durable medical equipment to help them recover.”

Many of the donations are from families of former hospice patients who received medical care funded by thrift store sales, and other donations are from very generous people in the community, she said. “If you want to know the definition of ‘generosity,' look in the dictionary. If you want to see what generosity looks like, walk into the store.”

Such generosity extends to other area thrift stores, which also use the proceeds to benefit the community.

Assistance League of Yuma, which will begin its Christmas in July sales on Tuesday, provides school clothes for needy children.

Bill Donnelly, development director at Crossroads Mission, said the money obtained from sales at the Crossroads Mission Second Chance thrift store goes to programs at the mission that benefit hungry and homeless people as well as those in recovery.

And Carina Wilhite, manager at Precious Treasures thrift store in Somerton, said money from sales goes to fund free summer and after-school youth programs, family assistance programs, food baskets for needy families and a scholarship fund.

But people are not the only ones that benefit. The Humane Society of Yuma has altered 1,640 animals in the past 18 months at its low-cost spay and neuter clinic, which is funded completely by sales at its thrift store and its used furniture store, said Annette Lagunas, director of operations.

At that rate, Yuma may begin to see a substantial decrease in the next three and a half years in the number of abandoned and unwanted animals, many of which end up being euthanized, she said.

So a woman who finds a little black dress and cute shoes for $10 at Salvation Army might want to buy her guy a gray Van Heusen dress shirt for $5.99 and matching slacks for $7.99 at Goodwill. After all, he may be so impressed with her frugality that he'll propose, prompting her to buy that brand-new bridal gown for $200 at the Hospice thrift shop, as well as the coffee/cappuccino maker for $20 so he can make her coffee each morning after they're married.

The money they'd spend would help feed, clothe and shelter needy people, provide jobs, provide palliative care for hospice patients, help keep kids off the streets and reduce the number of hungry, homeless animals.

And some of the money the couple would save could be spent on a nice dinner at a local restaurant, which could help boost the local economy. They could wear their “new” duds on the dinner date, proving that when it comes to thrift shopping, it's always a win-win situation.

Local thrift stores

• Assistance League of Yuma

1054 S. 4th Ave.

• Crossroads Mission Second Chance Thrift Store

2291 E. Palo Verde St.

• Goodwill

1091 S. 4th Ave.

501 W. Catalina Drive

• Hospice of Yuma Thrift Shop

1808 S. 8th Ave.

• Humane Society of Yuma Second Paw Thrift Store

2375 S. 4th Ave., Suite H

• Humane Society of Yuma Furniture Store

3780 S. 4th Ave.

• The Salvation Army

600 W. Catalina Drive, Yuma

11825 S. Fortuna

Road, Foothills

• Precious Treasures

492 E. Main St., Somerton