A pair of sneakers at the bottom of the closet.
An old lamp collecting dust in the garage.
A Coach handbag hanging on the back of the bedroom door.
These are the kinds of items that sit around the house for months - or even years - before we decide to toss them aside. Or keep ignoring them.
But don’t.
Your unwanted items could go a long way toward improving someone else’s life.
Morristown’s Market Street Mission Thrift Store accepts donations of all of these items and more, and uses the resale proceeds to support its purpose: helping men overcome addictions.
Here’s how it works. Donations are accepted at the Mission’s thrift store at 25 George Street in Morristown. Items are sorted by staff members - including men in the program - and those deemed worthy of selling are displayed in the showroom, where customers hunt for bargains.
Proceeds then help defer the cost of putting men through the Mission’s months-long program, which includes free meals, shelter, and counseling. They also take classes in anger management, financial stewardship, scripture study, lessons on fatherhood, and more.
For Melanie Fernandez, the thrift store manager, the money generated by sales matters, but the program's role in men’s lives goes far beyond dollars and cents.
“The thrift store ties into the work therapy piece,” Fernandez says. “A lot of men will come to the thrift store and do jobs here. And we have staff that will train them in the retail side of jobs and time management, how to start a task, how to finish it, how to do it in a time frame.”
Market Street Mission was founded in 1889 by Louisa Graves Owen, who hosted a women’s Bible study in her home. After learning that many of their husbands struggled with alcoholism, Owen approached her husband, a reverend, about finding a way to help.
“A lot of the backbone of the mission is hard work,” says Avery Mueller, the Mission’s Social Media and Community Relations Coordinator. “As part of the program’s history, men in the program would work for meals, and then be able to send money to their families.” However, men in the present-day program don’t continue to send money to their families. Recovery focuses on the individual, which, with continued support, has an even bigger trickle-down effect on their families.
Donations play an important part, too. In addition to monetary donations and items brought into the thrift store, Mission employees will travel roughly 25 miles to pick up larger items like couches and other household items. So that old dresser in your garage - don’t put it on the curb.
Regardless of what the item is, it matters. A lot.
“If people didn’t drop off clothes, we wouldn’t have a thrift store,” Mueller says. “So I think it’s just very cool that no matter what your role is, everybody’s role is huge here.”
That includes those who simply want to shop for a bargain. In addition to clothing, furniture, pots and pans, and other kitchenware, the thrift store rolls out seasonal items like holiday decorations.
In fact, the second Saturday of November is the day the store begins selling Christmas items. Artificial trees, wreaths, lights, and other Christmas decorations are displayed in what Fernandez calls a “Christmas wonderland.”
“It’s just beautiful,” she says. “It kind of starts the holiday season for us.”
Regardless of the time of year, the thrift store is a place where customers can go on a “treasure hunt,” Mueller says.
Just because someone no longer wants an item doesn't mean it isn't valuable. The Mission has a certain standard that must be met. Items that don’t qualify aren't thrown out; they're donated to other causes or thrift shops. Some are even sold elsewhere to support the Mission’s purpose.
As Fernandez points out, the Mission is “surrounded by very, very affluent towns. And they are our donors,” so many items reflect that. Shoppers can sometimes find labels such as Burberry, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Coach. If the thrift store receives a purse that originally cost $500 and is selling online for $400, a customer could get it at the thrift store for $100.
Staff members use Google Lens, Poshmark, and eBay to determine price points.
Sometimes, like on the first Saturday of each month, when the store offers a student discount day, it offers even better prices. “You do find great deals here,” Mueller says.
Regardless of what is bought or what the price is, every sale supports the Mission’s larger purpose - helping men in need. Fernandez says the most rewarding part of her job is seeing the transformation of men in the Mission’s program. So while customers may browse through items and see bargains, Fernandez sees something else.
“It’s just great seeing the men reconnect with their families, rebuild their lives, go out and get jobs,” she says. “It’s just terrific.”
https://www.marketstreet.org/thrift-store/
Recovery focuses on the individual, which, with continued support, has an even bigger trickle-down effect on their families.
Regardless of what is bought or the price, every sale supports the Mission’s larger purpose: helping men in need. So while customers may browse through items and see bargains, Fernandez sees something else.