Be A Sweetheart and Shop for a Cause

Like me, you love thrift store shopping or you wouldn’t be reading this column. You love the thrill of making a great find at a bargain price, and enjoy the thought that you’re going green by recycling perfectly good quality items and getting more use from them.

Have you ever given thought to where the money you spend is going? Many thrift stores are run by charitable organizations. So in addition to all of the benefits that go to you and the planet by thrift store shopping, you’re also helping support the work of a nonprofit organization.

There are plenty of big names in the thrift store business: Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, and AMVETS are well-known and their work is reputable and widely admired.

But there are many other smaller thrift stores whose sales benefit their ongoing work that you might not be familiar with. If one of these causes is dear to you, just by doing a little shopping you can do a lot of good. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

The Animal Protection and Rescue League is a San Diego-based nonprofit organization working to document and expose animal cruelty, educate the public on animal rights issues and promotes a vegan lifestyle. This adorable shop has a wide variety of goods including clothing, books and CDs, and jewelry.

5947 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego 92117
858-541-0240

Hours: 10am-8pm Mon – Sat and 11am-6pm Sun.

Website: www.aprl.org

San Diegan Carol Baras started The Baras Foundation in 1978 to help support causes benefiting children, education, domestic violence, and recovery from addiction. The stores still direct their proceeds to these good works on an ongoing basis. There’s always a generous array of goods in Baras Thrift Stores. Several of the stores have closed recently, with just two locations remaining open.

Hillcrest: 1455 University Avenue, San Diego 92103 619-291-5252

Clairemont: 4792 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego 92111

858-277-6767

Hours: Seven days, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

These upscale thrift stores benefit the American Cancer Society, helping support the fight against cancer through the sale of high quality, gently used, donated merchandise. For over 40 years, the Society has owned and operated these specialty resale stores, featuring items such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, furniture, artwork, antiques, collectibles, and other household items.

Point Loma: 3609 Midway Dr San Diego 92110

619-224-4336

Rancho Bernardo: 16787 Bernardo Center Dr A01B San Diego 92128

858-385-0479

Website: discoveryshop-ranchobernardo.org

Hours: Mon, Fri, Sat 10:00am – 5:00pm; Tue-Thu 10:00am – 7:00pm; Sun 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Website: discoveryshop-pointloma.org

Tp>The McAllister Institute is a nonprofit provider of professional substance abuse treatment programs including education, intervention, counseling, medical treatment, and research. Its El Cajon thrift store supports its programs, and offers retail job training opportunities for clients involved in the employment preparation program. There is a wide range of goods and great bargains here.

993 East Main Street, El Cajon 92020

619- 442-0212

Hours: Mon – Fri, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Website: mcalisterthriftstore.com

Rancho Coastal Humane Society is dedicated to the rescue and shelter of abandoned companion animals, encouraging adoptions into loving homes and promoting humane ideals through education and community outreach. Its Cardiff thrift store is loaded with funky beach flair and bargains galore. You’ll have a lot of fun in this place.

120 Aberdeen Drive, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007

760-753-0970

Hours: Mon – Sat, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Website: www.rchumanesociety.org

Safari Seconds has bargains for every room in the house. Small appliances, dishes and kitchen utensils, inexpensive electronics, furniture, books and CDs, and clothing. The place looks small but it’s jam packed with inventory. Safari Seconds is owned by the Alliance for African Assistance, a nonprofit organization that helps refugees from over 25 different countries to settle in the United States.

2875 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego