Final Story

Economy may be down, but donations are up.

            In Moscow, Idaho, it was only 10 a.m. but the small parking lot at Hope Thrift Shoppe was full. The sounds of voices filled the store as customers scoured the shelves for new dishes, furniture and clothes. Two women sat in an alcoves talking and sipping coffee that was provided. Another woman browsed the clothes racks, continuously chatting to the small dog that seemed more interested in smells than styles.

            The treasures seemed endless for those who sifted through them; and they never stop coming.

            “Donations have stayed the same, but that’s still much higher than we expected,” said Steve Otto, manager of Hope Thrift Shoppe.

            Even in the down economy, the proximity to two universities and the holiday season bring in more donations than the shop can handle. They recycled over 90 tons of clothes alone in the last year Otto said.

            “We’ve got clothes covered,” said Otto. “We take in so many clothes that we end up recycling the ones that aren’t in great shape.”

            Patricia Baiar, operational manager of Palouse Treasures, agreed with Otto, saying they have so many clothes, but so little space for them. Palouse Treasures also recycles clothes that are too worn out or stained;  they get paid for every pound of clothes recycled to an organization in Seattle that turns around and sends the clothes to Africa, Baiar said.

            With fall semester ending and many students leaving, there has been a recent influx of donations.

             “Donations rise and fall with the college,” Baiar said. “It all depends on the semesters and when they end.”

            Location may play a major factor in why these thrift stores are experiencing more donations than expected. According to a July 2010 article in the Non-Profit Times, donations decreased by 3 percent in 2009. It was the second year in a row that donations decreased.

            While this isn’t the major downturn most organizations were fearing, it has led to many non-profits to still fall short of the materials needed to meet budget and project requirements.

            Palouse Treasures is a sister organization of Palouse Industries, an organization that helps persons with disabilities. The thrift shop functions as a source of income for Palouse Industries, while providing workplace training for clients. If Palouse Treasures were to close, so would those important resources, said Baiar.

            Hope Thrift Shoppe works with the surrounding communities to provide whatever services are needed. Recently, they have been providing free haircuts and interview clothes to those who can’t afford them, Otto said.

            Donations aren’t the only thing increasing for the thrift store. According to Otto, sales at Hope Thrift Shoppe have increased 50 percent since November 2009.

            “We thought it would take us two years to meet our overhead,” Otto said, “but we’ve been open just over a year and have already reached it.”