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By Dawn Klavon
In 2012, singer Macklemore brought finding a deal into vogue with his pop hit, “Thrift Shop.” Millions were singing about “‘poppin’ tags with $20 in my pocket.”
“For me, it’s kind of like treasure hunting,” said Audrey Mascarenhas, a Bristow resident and longtime thrift
shopper. “I love the anticipation and possibility of finding a diamond in the rough.”
Shopping Locally for a Cause
Prince William is chock full of nonprofit organizations that offer retail thrift shops with steals and deals for the masses to enjoy. Proceeds from the thrift stores go to help economically disadvantaged, elderly, and disabled individuals through a variety of resourceful organizations.
Bristow resident Allyson Austin and family are fans of the sport of thrifting. She described her college-age daughters transforming a baby’s changing table into a kitchen island by placing a marble remnant on top.
“It looked really nice,” Austin said, “and the girls spent $15 on it!”
Spending money in nonprofit thrift stores offers opportunities to help others while getting something for yourself, as well as reusing items that may otherwise be discarded.
“It’s really the icing on the cake that shopping at these stores helps you give back to society,” said Mascarenhas. “I think it’s such a win-win for everyone; I also like the fact that it gives things a second lease on life.”
Thrift shopping helps people with second chances in many ways, Austin said, pointing out that stores use proceeds to help the less fortunate, and some shoppers seek low-priced fashions to start over in their own lives. Austin described taking a newly divorced friend thrifting to find business attire for her new job. “I was able to find clothes — some designer clothes with tags — and we put together some really cute outfits for her,” Austin said. “She was like, ‘Wow!’, and I was like, ‘Yeah, you just have to dig in.’”
Next time you have a free afternoon, consider digging deep in one or two or three of PWC’s best thrift shops — you’ll be shopping for a cause and getting more for less. Not all thrift shops are non-profit, but the following Prince William shops are 501(c)(3) organizations, striving to make a difference in our community.
Local Nonprofit Thrift Stores
Goodwill Dale City Retail Center & Donation Center
2950 Dale Blvd., Dale City, 703-986-3976
Store hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Donation center hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Goodwill Liberia Avenue Manassas Retail Center & Donation Center
9769 Liberia Ave, Manassas, 571-921-4194
Store hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Donation center hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Goodwill Sudley Road Manassas Retail Center & Donation Center
8014 Sudley Rd., Manassas, 703-551-3200
Store hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Donation center hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
House Of Mercy Thrift Store & Food Pantry
8170 Flannery Court, Manassas, 703-659-1636
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
UVA Prince William Manassas Auxiliary Thrift Shop
9215 Center Street, Manassas, 703-361-4344
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center Manassas
11201 Balls Ford Rd, Manassas, 703-686-4607
Store hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (except Wednesday, which is 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
Donation hours: Monday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center Woodbridge
13287 Gordon Boulevard, Woodbridge, 703-490-2396
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (except Wednesday, which is 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
Donation hours: Monday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Second Acts Community Nonprofit Thrift Store
3900 ACTS Lane, Dumfries, 703-441-8606
Retail hours: Monday – Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Thursday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Donation drop-off hours: Accepting donations at their new Thrift Store Donation Center one block south of the store on Main Street (17690 Main St, Dumfries, VA 22026). Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Habitat For Humanity ReStore Discount Home Improvement & Donation Center
10159 Hastings Drive, Manassas, 703-369-6145
Retail hours: Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Donations may be dropped off during store hours.
They are currently scheduling donation pickups during operation hours. Call 703-369-6145 during store hours or leave a message at other times. Or, email at restore@habitatpwc.org.
Dawn Klavon is a journalist, author, media director and recent transplant to NOVA. She thrives on juggling multiple projects, discovering local hot spots, consuming blue crab and conquering sudoku puzzles. Dawn can be reached at dklavon@princewilliamliving.com.
