The gift of thrift - St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was born in a time of political, social, religious, and economic turmoil in France. Antoine Frédéric Ozanam couldn’t bear the conditions, so he gathered a group of people to actively bring hope to society. Saint Vincent de Paul Charity has been a force of kindness in the United States since 1845. Its nearly 90,000 volunteers serve 4 million people in need every year. It is this same passion as HumanKindClub that drives us to support organizations such as SVDP.
When I started going to thrift stores back in the 80s, I was simply looking for alternative fashion. I was hooked on the experience of sifting through racks, bins and shelves, never knowing what gem I might find. There is a thrill that comes with the adventure of it (the antithesis of shopping online to order exactly what you want). For me, thrifting was a divine act. I knew I was keeping stuff out of the landfill and supporting something good; but, most importantly I was honoring the items by keeping them in circulation. Over the decades I could always count on a thrift dress for style.
So, when our friend and extended family member, Kris Brewer, invited us to volunteer at the SVDP in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin we jumped at the opportunity. This time, it was not about scoring some amazing outfit (we are traveling as HKC with limited room). Rather, it was the chance to be a part of the operation. We figured we’d spend the day in a cramped back room armed with a pricing gun. When we entered the store, we realized there was no “thrift store smell.” And items were not just organized, they were cleverly and expertly merchandised by themes.
We were greeted warmly by Melissa, who offered to start us off with a tour. She led us through the staff-only doors and into a wonderland. It was like I had died and gone to thrift store heaven. The enormous warehouse was divided into workshops: electrical, carpentry, jewelry, bicycles, floral arrangements, and other crafts. Each area had clearly defined processes operating from a master plan to optimize efficiency and usefulness. It was evident that a lot of thought went into every system.
Martín worked with Roy, an 89-year-old sharp-minded, sweetheart of a guy who could still hold his own lifting, hauling, and tossing large bags. In the receiving section everything is sorted into bins: electronics, shoes, sporting goods, bedding, holiday items, housewares, clothing, kitchen, etc. From there, each bin goes to its respective area to be sorted again into what can be restored, reworked, prepared for the floor, or prepped to go to a partner organization. Metal objects that could not be sold were recycled. Pallets and odd-ball or broken furniture were made into new items. Kitchen islands and sideboards were a popular product. Imagine if every town had a place to upcycle “waste” into new useful and appealing items.
Fast fashion creates a billion items of clothing per year. Mountains of clothing end up in the Atacama Desert in Chile to be burned. Ugh. At SVDP, clothing curators sift through incoming items and sort by type and quality. What is not kept for the store is put in a giant compactor that holds 1,000 pounds of clothing. Each half-ton bundle is wrapped and put in a container. Once there are 40 bundles, the container goes to a partner organization that sorts and disperses items globally. When 100 bags of shoes are ready, they too are distributed to other countries. This effort may seem wasteful, but it is currently the best option for keeping it out of landfills and in circulation. This SVDP has recycled over 3.8 million pounds of clothing in the last decade.
With some of the funds generated, SVDP purchases school supplies to give to local children. In front of the warehouse there is also a Head-Start preschool and resource center that offers dental care, health care, addiction recovery support and more. While we were there, a family who had lost their home in a fire was picking out new furniture that they would be given for free. Their methods for supporting the community are truly impressive.
Everyone we met and worked with was very open and friendly. I learned that Heather grew up in the same area of California where Martín and I lived. Another woman shared that her husband passed away five years ago. I got the sense that SVDP provides the purpose that keeps her moving forward. Various volunteers and employees stopped to engage with us - this community thrives on kindness. The jovial spirit is probably why most of the staff have served SVDP for 10 years or more. The store manager started as a volunteer when he was 15. After college he came back to lead the organization. One 98-year-old volunteer still comes in! He does puzzles to make sure all the pieces are in the box. Everyone is able to give in their own special way. This approach could ease much of the world’s woes - feelings of isolation, lack of purpose, feeling unskilled.
So if you are a thrifter, know that you are doing something great for the world. Not only are you supporting reuse and keeping items out of the landfills, but you are also supporting organizations like Saint Vincent de Paul that turn your money into jobs, healthcare, disaster relief, education, and community welfare. Here are the reasons you might want to start thrifting if you don’t already.
How is Thrifting an Act of Kindness:
To Yourself: Saving money!
To Those You Know: You can find amazing one-of-a-kind or retro gems as gifts!
To Those You Don’t Know: Your purchase is supporting your community.
To Nature: A lot of resources went into making each item found in a thrift store. Keeping it in use for as long as possible is good for the planet!