Donation & Reuse

• Carry a refillable water bottle and coffee mug
• Carry a reusable straw
• Switch to ‘unpaper’ towels and cloth napkins
• Switch from plastic baggies to reusable food storage containers or reusable silicone bags
• Use a coffee press and bulk coffee, or reusable tea strainer and bulk tea
• Refillable safety razors instead of disposable plastic
• Reusable gift bags or fabric gift wrap
• Reusable shopping bags
• Donate or sell your old stuff and buy used
• Switch to refillable or DIY cleaning products in refillable containers

THRIFT OFTEN – Inventory changes frequently, so more quick stops might lead to more great finds than one epic thrift session

HAVE A THRIFT SHOPPING LIST – Keep a list of things you are looking for – so anytime you thrift you can check for specific things

CHECK SECONDHAND FIRST – If you are looking for something very specific, you might not find it used, but you also might be surprised at what you find that will work instead

TRY DIFFERENT KINDS OF STORES – If digging through lots of items to find treasure frustrates you, try a more upscale consignment store first, or head online for lots of curated but used luxury or high end brands that you can search by size, color, brand, etc. Try websites like Mercari, Poshmark, TheRealReal, Vinted, or even clothing rental for special events such as Rent the Runway.

KEEP AN OPEN MIND – Thrifting can be an inexpensive way to try out new styles or items you otherwise wouldn’t want to invest in – and a thrifted item might just become your new favorite thing

GO WITH A FRIEND – Make it a party and go with a friend – you get some social time and someone to get feedback on what treasures to take home

You can find many great things to give as gifts at thrift stores. Housewares are easier than clothing, but many times you can find items with tags still on that were never worn.

VASES – Create a unique set of thrifted and vintage vases for a gardener – stay in one color family to make the set cohesive.

BASKETS – create your own gift basket starting with a thrifted basket. Fill with goodies like chocolate and wine, and line with a funky thrifted scarf to complete the package.

UTENSILS AS TOYS – make your own kinetic sand, or playdough play kit with thrifted kitchen containers and utensils. These are higher quality and more sturdy than the plastic parts that often come with kids products, and they are cheaper! Scoops, garlic presses, egg strainers, shakers, you name it! Pair with a bag of kinetic sand and let them go wild. This is also a more sustainable way to buy beach toys in the summer as well!

FRAMES – thrift shops are often overflowing with frames. You can save a bundle and use the frames for kids art, school pictures for grandma and grandpa, or to frame a unique scarf to make your own wall art.

GAMES – Games and puzzles are easy to find. Include a ‘certificate’ or coupon for a family game night and some popcorn and treats and you’ve got a great gift.

FUNKY LAMPS – Unique lamps make great gifts. Vintage and thrifted are IN – so help a college student outfit their dorm or first apartment on a thrift outing you can enjoy together!

TABLE LINENS – Find funky cloth napkin sets or vintage table cloths for the host or hostess with the mostest.

FANCY GOBLETS & SERVING DISHES – Pick up a standout relish tray and bring it to a gathering as a hostess gift that you can leave behind. Fancy cocktail or wine glasses are also easy to find used.

DRESS UP – Skip the cheaply made new kids jewelry – give the gift of imaginative play with costume jewelry, silky scarves, vintage hairbrush and mirror sets and other fun thrift store finds – and then pack it all in a thrifted trunk, basket or suitcase for a complete gift that will give hours and hours of play.

VINTAGE JEWELRY – For the fashionista in your life – go on a vintage jewelry shopping adventure together, or scope out a unique find on your own for a one-of-a-kind gift.

Having trouble remembering to bring your reusable bags to the store? Us too. We offer Bring Your Own Bag decals for store windows or doors that remind customers to grab their reusable bag before they start shopping. A small sized grocery store we know spends up to $30,000 on bags each year – which is a lot of money and a lot of waste. By choosing to reuse bags, you can save a business money, and feel good about not making waste. To get a decal for your retail space, contact the Public Information & Education Officer.