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Thrifting has recently gained in popularity with more young people catching on to the idea of sustainability. Reusing, repurposing for the greater good of the planet. You are either “a picker and a digger” or you are not. I was raised as a thrifter. I remember as a young child driving around the neighborhood with my mom during the town’s “Throw Out” week, when people placed their unwanted items on the curb for others to pick up and claim as their own. I called it “Throw Up” week as young kids do mixing up words.

About twice a year Family Promise of Sussex County partners with Nick’s Hope in bringing together a Pop Up Thrift Shop free for the community. This year it will be held on November 16th with the First Presbyterian Church of Newton acting as our gracious host.

Interested in thrifting? Here are some pro-tips:

· Don’t go with the idea that you are looking for something specific. Be open minded, use this as an opportunity to try, buy something that you normally would not.
· Some stores don’t have proper dressing rooms or none at all. Wear clothes that you could easily take a layer off or be able to add a layer to try something on.
· Pay attention to labels, fabrics, prints, where it was made – these are all clues for quality.
· Try to find a thrift shop in or near a wealthy community, more apt to find higher quality items at a discounted price.

Just go out there and try, you never know what you will find and the thrill of the hunt especially when your score is amazing. Let us know what has been your greatest second-hand thrift find.

Every year the third week in October is set aside to celebrate the impact that Family Promise has made across the country. This year it will be from October 21st to October 25th. We at Family Promise of Sussex County are part of a national group of affiliates under the Family Promise name. There is even an affiliate in Hawaii! I like to describe it as, “We are like Burger King. Independently owned and operated.” Each affiliate office tailors the services they offer to what is most needed in their community. We focus a lot on diversion and prevention so that people can hopefully avoid becoming unsheltered but for those who do we offer rehousing services and support to help people transition back to stable housing.

It can be quite rewarding working for a non-profit which can be so integral and transformative in people’s lives. But let’s not forget to celebrate the “little positive impacts” we all do or at least could do every day. It can be as simple as smiling at a stranger you pass walking down the street, holding the door open for someone, genuinely asking someone how are they doing today. Remember the huge impact earlier this year that Elmo made by posting online “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” and he’s not even a real person and talks in the third person!

So, while we will celebrate the impacts and accomplishments that we do as an agency and part of a national affiliate organization, let’s not forget to celebrate our own personal impacts we have on each other.