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The Salvation Army logo

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A good friend of mine was given a beautiful dress with gold accents for her birthday.  She typically wears silver accessories, my response was “Now you have a reason to go shopping”  to which she responded, “Who needs a reason?”  I agree,  but there are times when you buy and it happens to support a cause.  If you’re the type of person that feels they need a reason to shop, here are a few feel good reasons to go shopping.

It’s always a good idea to help those that are less fortunate than you.  Donations to Goodwill or The Salvation Army go to help adults that have disabilities and those that need job training to be productive members of society.  (By the way, the link here to Goodwill is for Goodwill of Orange County and they get designer apparel and high end furnishings from other Goodwill donation centers from around the world).   These are two very recognizable names but did you know there are other thrift stores & one retail chain around the country that have been established to help people who are facing some sort of adversity in their lives?  Here are a few wonderful reasons to go shopping:

Housing Works – Located in Brooklyn, New York, this charity helps those in the Big Apple and beyond.  Housing Works has a mission of providing housing for homeless people that are living with HIV & AIDS.  If you happen to live in the Brooklyn area, they also have a Cafe & Bookstore.  Check them out and know that your dollars will make you and someone else happy.  They have an online store where you can get items that were hand picked by their staff just for online purchasing.

The Spring – Located in Tampa, Florida, the Spring provides a safe haven for abused adults and their children.  They offer a vintage clothing shop here in town (I’m in Tampa for my readers located in other parts of the country).  The online store however, is a little different from what you would expect.  You will not find vintage clothing but art work instead.  You can have it put on a coffee mug, an apron & a few other selections.  This artwork was created by the children that found refuge at The Spring.  Who would have thought a cup of coffee could be so rewarding?

I know the vast majority of this article is about thrift stores but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one large retailer that believes in putting their money where their mouths are. Toms, for every pair of shoes purchased, they donate a pair to a child in need.  My son introduced me to this wonderful cause and I hope to one day emulate this effort here in my area.

If you would like to shop for a cause in your area, you can find locations in your area here and remember to clean out your closet before you go because they can always use your donations.

Happy Shopping!

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