Shopping for a Good Cause: The Junior League Summit Thrift Store
My cousin and I have found a newfound love for thrifting. It's an eco-friendly way to find pre-loved statement pieces. Naturally, last time we met up, we had to visit a local thrift store - ever since that escapade, I've been searching for ones nearby me. However, I was rather delighted to rediscover one right under my nose. It's one of those places you know about, but once you walk in, you just CAN'T believe you haven't visited.
Say hello to the Junior League Summit Thrift Shop, quaintly housed in Summit at 37 Deforest Avenue. I talked to Marie about a store that has truly made a name for itself; after all, it's the town's oldest retailer (dating back to 1934)! As implied in the name, the shop has been proudly run for decades by the Junior League of Summit.
JLS, according to Marie, boosts the community through "financial and member support to many local non-profits . . . Grants in the recent past were to Family Promise, Dress for Success, Good Grief, Overlook Foundation, Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Keys 2 Success and many more." If you'd like more evidence of their generosity, it can also be found in their support for local scholarships and projects. At long last, you can feel pride in your retail therapy! The proceeds of your patronage are going to honorable causes (and also to your closet). But don't be fooled! You can find so much more than clothes at the thrift shop. The store also offers appliances, artwork, household items, jewelry, books, and more.
As I strolled the history-packed store, I couldn't help but wonder - what makes thrift stores so important besides quirky shoes? I knew there was something much more wholesome and valuable to secondhand stores, but I had trouble articulating it. Luckily, Marie does a much better job than I. "Thrift shopping allows the consumer to get more goods for their money. It helps any budget to go further. It also helps the consumer to make a conscious decision to recycle and reuse; every small part helps the environment." Apart from ecological and economic convenience, Marie goes on to explain another joy of thrifting - repurposing. In her eyes, creating new wonders from old clothing sparks creativity!
I couldn't leave without getting an item of my own. I found a flowy black ankle-length skirt. Reaching from my waist to my feet, I felt a little like a bat! However, Hong Kong Garden was playing in my earbuds in the fitting room. As if Siouxsie Sioux were telepathically giving me advice, I knew it had to come home with me. And what a steal - for only ten dollars, I have a new favorite skirt!
One would think the JLS Thrift Shop couldn't possibly benefit more people, but Marie herself opened up about the store's impact on her personally. "I enjoy managing a local business because it grounds me. It connects me with so many people from the local area and has opened my eyes to the many organizations and life of our local community." Stop by the Junior League Summit Thrift Shop if you're in the mood for shopping and uplifting those who pay it forward. The greatest duo since "high-rise" and "jeans."
Thanks to Marie and to Caitlin Crimmins for their help! Learn more about the Junior League of Summit at their webpage: http://jlsummit.org
