The people who run thrift stores are grateful for every donation that supports their cause. Unfortunately, some donations cause headaches instead of helping. If you throw your well-used possessions into a box without even looking at them, you may be part of the problem. Thrift stores simply can’t sell damaged, broken, and overly worn items.
To find out how we can be better donors, we spoke with Ernie C. Mills, Jr., vice president of development for the Durham Rescue Mission, which runs six thrift stores in central North Carolina. His biggest piece of advice?
“Always check your local thrift store’s guidelines and ask yourself if you’d buy the item in its current state before donating,” Mills says. Read his list of the top five mistakes thrift stores wish you’d stop making.
Donating Damaged And Dirty Items
“One common mistake people make when donating furniture to a thrift store is failing to ensure the items are in good, usable condition,” Mills advises. Rather than making it to the sales floor, damaged and dirty items usually end up in a dumpster…