Socially responsible thrift shopping

I’ve mentioned before that I like going to thrift stores. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the socially responsible way to shop. Rather than contributing to the excessive trend of “out with the old, in with the new,” it’s a way to “reduce, re-use, recycle.”

 

As I’m sure nearly everyone has, I have made some very satisfying purchases–not only saving money, but also finding items with character and style.

 

Apparently I came into the company of a truly like-minded individual last Saturday when I attended a “Hat Extravaganza” at Waseca’s Faith United Methodist Church. There, church member and Ellendale area resident Roberta Walker was sharing information about her hat collection, which numbers 150 or more.

 

Roberta shared that nearly all of her hats–which not only range over every color in the spectrum but also include neutrals and metallic colors–were purchased on the second-hand market. Very important to mention is that none of them looked used; instead they seemed as fresh and crisp as if they had just come from the milliner.

 

By chance, also in attendance at the extravaganza was another person I think of when it comes to “reducing, re-using and recycling,” a local woman I wrote about almost exactly one year ago who spent seven years meticulously sorting through her parents’ overwhelming collection of belongings and finding environmentally responsible places where the widely varied assemblage of household and vintage items could be sent. 

 

As Roberta talked about acquiring her hats, she made the statement that, when she sees a sign for a sale, her car “almost turns itself” to follow it.

 

I couldn’t help smiling at that. 

 

I have been stopping at fewer sales these days, to a large degree because I am frequently on my way somewhere and don’t believe I have time. Still, I feel an internal tug. Who knows what I might be missing? What items offered at the sale could fill a gap faced by someone in my family or circle of friends?

 

The internal conflict continues for a block or more while I repress the urge to turn around. If I should pass a second sign pointing to the same sale, the admonitions start all over again. 

 

A piece of good news for me is, if I don’t get to any garage sales for a while, the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center stands ready to satisfy my craving for bargains, variety, and novelty. Whether at the Service Center or a sale, a significant part of the fun is seeing the interesting items people have chosen and made use of.

 

I toy with ideas about how I might use those items, or how they might benefit people near to me. If the benefit seems strong enough and the price is enough of a bargain, I am likely to make a purchase, always hoping my speculations are accurate.

 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the piece about Roberta Walker and her hats. Perhaps you, too, will find yourself connected to her interesting experiences in some way.