Many nonprofit organizations have been hit hard during the pandemic. As people find themselves out of work or staring at an uncertain future, their ability to give decreases. And even when businesses reopen and people get back to work, they may not have money to donate for some time. But even if you’re unable to provide monetary support to a local nonprofit, you can still reach out a helping hand.
If you’re like us, you’ve spent a good bit of the stay-at-home order cleaning and organizing your house. Closets, spare rooms, and cabinets have been cleared. So instead of selling the casualties of this spring cleaning or even tossing them in the garbage, consider donating to a local nonprofit thrift store. And when they’re able to reopen their doors, they’re a great alternative to a big box store for shopping. For organizations like Alpha-Omega Miracle Home, Community Hospice & Palliative Care, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Betty Griffin Center, proceeds from these thrift stores often represent a significant portion of their yearly budget and help keep local programs alive and thriving.
The thrift stores provided Alpha-Omega with 46.2% of their total 2019 income – totaling over $500,000. For the Betty Griffin Center, the thrift store net income from both stores averages about $650,000-$700,000/year and represents around 25% of their yearly budget. All of the proceeds from these stores – that vintage blouse you wear to the office everyday, that funky lamp that sits on your shelf, the toys strewn across your kids’ room – go to the work of these organizations. The income from the thrift stores cover community outreach and residential programs, services and support offered to survivors.
“We were projecting further growth in 2020 prior to COVID-19, which forced us to close our doors in excess of 30 days to keep our staff and community healthy and comply with safety regulations mandated by the Governor,” says Kristin Thomas of Alpha Omega. “As a result, 18 of 20 AOMH staff have been laid off. Some of us are continuing to keep the mission in motion as volunteers work from a safe distance at home via computer and telephone.”
This pandemic has made a huge impact on the work of these organizations. But by shopping at these stores, you’re helping to keep programs and services alive that reach some of the most vulnerable of our community. By donating, you’re supporting the needy in our city. Every purchase, every donation makes a difference.
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