FOND DU LAC – Whether for their affordability to shoppers or contributions to causes, Fond du Lac thrift stores are worth recognition.
National Thrift Shop Day is Aug. 17, celebrating local thrift shops and raising awareness for charitable organizations they support.
Shoppers often flock to thrift stores in search of bargains or hidden treasures, and community members also donate their items when moving, downsizing or just hoping someone else will bring their goods new life.
Here's what thrift stores have to offer in Fond du Lac.
Second Impressions Thrift Store
Second Impressions Thrift Store, 325 Winnebago Drive, is a Christian-based store with a mission to provide access to good quality, affordable products in a clean and comfortable atmosphere, according to its website.
Many community members support the store, whether by donating items or giving their time by volunteering. Profits support Winnebago Lutheran Academy and other charitable organizations in Fond du Lac and the surrounding area.
The store offers clothing, jewelry, accessories, books, DVDs, toys, kitchenware and other household items, as well as outdoor gear in the front of the store. Other sections deeper into the store include arts & crafts, decorations and furniture, from dressers and desks to chairs and couches.
For National Thrift Shop Day, Second Impressions will offer 50% off everything in the store, except for furniture.
Second Impressions accepts donations that are clean, in working order and in good condition. They are accepted around the back of the store during donation hours. More information and a list of what is not accepted — including children's car seats, microwaves and VHS tapes — is available at secondimpressionsfdl.com.
Weekly deals and featured finds are posted on the Second Impressions Thrift Store Facebook page.
The store is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
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St. Vincent de Paul Fond du Lac County
St. Vincent de Paul Fond du Lac County, 330 N. Peters Ave., is volunteer-run, and almost all the money earned goes back into the Fond du Lac community.
Members of the local St. Vincent de Paul Society also provide community service, aiding people in need with food, rent, utilities and other basic necessities in times of crisis.
In addition to clothes, jewelry and housewares, the store offers exercise equipment, books, decorations, holiday items and furniture, including desks, dining tables and chairs.
The store also features a silent auction, where collections are displayed in the store, and customers can either bid at the store or online. The current auction, which ends Aug. 31, includes jewelry, collectible coins, Care Bears and memorabilia from Harley-Davidson, Elton John and the Brewers.
A Fond du Lac-only membership, called the Vinny Club, offers special discounts and access to regular promotions posted each month, including a monthly Senior Sale.
St. Vincent de Paul accepts donated items in usable quality behind the store or, for large furniture, arranged for pick-up. It also accepts food donations for its food pantry and monetary donations for the organization and the St. Katharine Drexel Shelter.
More information and a list of what is not accepted is available at svdpfdlc.org.
St. Vincent de Paul is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
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Salvation Army of Fond du Lac
The Salvation Army of Fond du Lac has many programs throughout the year to aid community members experiencing hunger, homelessness, addiction recovery and more, including the food pantry, Brown Bag Lunch program, the Red Kettle Campaign and winter coat collection.
The thrift store, 79 W. Pioneer Road, benefits the community, both with its profits from shoppers and by providing a selection of items for those in need to choose from as they need them — the Salvation Army of Fond du Lac's social service fund covers their purchase.
The store accepts clothing, household goods, and small appliances and gadgets. A list of unaccepted items on the website includes anything broken, stained or torn, and anything that poses a health or safety risk.
Salvation Army of Fond du Lac Thrift Store is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.
For more about volunteering or the organization's other services, visit centralusa.salvationarmy.org/fonddulac.
Goodwill
Goodwill, 904 S. Main St., is part of the Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin section of the nonprofit chain, which supports job placement, training and education services across its network.
The Fond du Lac store itself has a variety of clothing, shoes, books, seasonal items, toys, collectibles and household items. This includes formal dresses, stuffed animals, Christmas decorations and dish sets.
The donation center can take in new and gently-used items, including working electronics and tools. However, in addition to car seats, personal care items, large appliances and other health and safety risk items, Goodwill cannot accept large furniture or exercise equipment.
Goodwill is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Fond du Lac resale, consignment shops
Though slightly different from nonprofit thrift stores, Fond du Lac also has resale stores for bargain or treasure hunting.
Autumn's Closet, 812 S. Main St., buys and sells gently used, brand-name clothing for women and girls. Offerings change daily, and regular features are posted on the store's Facebook page.
Next door is Little Munchkins Resale Shop, which buys and sells new, like-new and gently used clothing and shoes for infants and children, as well as baby supplies, such as toys.
Main Street Fashion, 117 S.Main St., is celebrating its 10-year anniversary throughout August with regular deals and trivia giveaways posted on its Facebook page. The store offers a constantly changing selection of discounted designer clothing and accessories.
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More Fond du Lac County thrift, resale stores
Bargains Galore, 810 W. Main St. in Waupun, is a thrift store that raises funds for Central Wisconsin Christian School. The store offers a weekly 20% off Super Saturday Sale and a frequent shopper punch card.
Also in-store are Dutch windmill cookies, licorice, candy and more, all imported from Holland.
Traded Treasures, 102 W. Jackson St. in Ripon, posts unique clothing and item arrivals on its Facebook page and regularly hosts a "Bargain Basement Blowout" sale. The shop also houses the local food pantry.
Family Affair, 107 S. Fond du Lac Ave. in Campbellsport, is a family-owned and operated resale shop offering clothes, household items and more.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her atdlemke@gannett.com.
