Nearly everything wears out. Count on a new toothbrush every few months for healthy teeth and gums. A sedan right off the assembly line could become a classic over the years and be passed down to your granddaughter. However, there are times when buying used makes sense. I view this as similar to the “reuse” part of the recycling triangle.
After looking at what was available for new furniture in the area, my wife and I found our “new” kitchen table at a consignment antique and collectables shop. The set included a leaf and four chairs. Though the style is not unique or fancy the table fits nicely with our decor. It replaces a table that we bought with the house nearly 11 years ago.
Buying used extends the item’s life and keeps everything from clothes to books out of the landfill until it is truly worn out. The practice spans a wide spectrum of sources, including auctions, garage sales, Facebook sales, second hand stores, consignment stores and thrift stores. In Alliance, The Collection Basket and Mission Store thrift stores see significant donations and sales.
This week, the Collection Basket, at 903 Big Horn Ave., is expanding its hours to twice a week — 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday and Thursday are drop off days. Located in the west end of Holy Rosary Catholic Church’s lyceum, proceeds go into a church fund. The store does take furniture, which “goes pretty quick,” said Pat Moomey, who has volunteered at the Collection Basket since it opened.
Last week, Reva Fielding shared about the Mission Store’s operation. She is one of around two dozen active volunteers on a list of about 40 people available to help out. This non-profit is at 203 Box Butte Ave. and open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Staff also spends an additional four hours sorting each week. Donations soon find their way to the store floor. However, there are a few things such as large household appliances and old mattresses that are not accepted. Fielding says they like to test what they do accept to make sure it works. As volunteers go through a steady stream of clothing they keep about two-thirds to sell in the store and bale the rest seasonally to ship where they are needed.
The Mission Store also accepts furniture, such as sofas and tables. Fielding said pieces of furniture are good sellers, but need to be in good re-sell condition.
Donations usually increase during garage sale season, which has been all but a couple months this past year due to the favorable weather, Fielding said.
She commented that they have their “regulars” along with people who come from surrounding towns. Fielding has seen people commit to coming back after their first time through the door.
Profits made at the Mission Store are reinvested in the community by awarding grants to qualifying local entities.
The Mission Store hopes to loosen some of its restrictions still in place due to the Covid 19 pandemic. “Everybody is in the same boat,” Fielding said, “don’t know how much to venture out into the economy. We go month to month.”
Keep Alliance Beautiful partners with Mission Store by providing a forklift and operator to load its clothing bales. The store has long recycled its donation boxes and has more recently saved wire hangers and plastic bags.
Try our local thrift stores when used may be the right fit.