This National Thrift Shop Day, Support Your Local Nonprofit Thrift Stores

August 17^th, National Thrift Shop Day, celebrates the benefits of thrift store shopping and raises awareness about supporting local charitable organizations. Yet, despite the best efforts of nonprofits in this field to amplify their missions, people do not always distinguish between for-profit and nonprofit thrift organizations and might not be aware of how their donations to nonprofit thrift stores are making a positive, generational impact on their communities.

Goodwill, The Salvation Army, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities USA and Habitat of Humanity are just a few of the many nonprofit organizations that operate thrift stores as a means of producing revenue to support their missions. Money earned from the stores is invested back into the local community through support services, such as housing, job training and placement, education, food assistance, veterans' support, or healthcare.

Thanks to eco-conscious and cost-conscious consumers, the resale market is booming. And that's great for the environment because when consumers buy secondhand, they are helping to fuel the circular economy. The circular economy keeps products in use for as long as possible versus sending items directly to a landfill.

Thrift stores contribute to circularity by extending the life of items that already exist and giving used items a second life. This impact is multiplied by nonprofit thrift organizations that use revenue from sales to deliver life-changing services and opportunities to people in need. When you donate or shop at a nonprofit thrift store, you can feel confident that you are supporting members of your community who need a helping hand.

So, before dropping off your items at a donation center, make sure it is a nonprofit organization. Review the organization's website to see if they are an IRS 501(C)(3) charitable organization. If you itemize your tax return, you can get a tax deduction. You can research nonprofit organizations here: GuideStar - 990 forms and other public financial data.

There are so many deserving nonprofit organizations across the U.S. who need contributions, and supporting nonprofit organizations in your community is critical. Donating your pre-loved items to your local nonprofit is a smart and circular way to lend a hand.