Local thrift stores help less fortunate

Thrift stores in Commerce are giving residents the opportunity to save money on clothes while still providing charity to the less fortunate.

Thrift stores are a natural occurrence in most towns and Commerce is no exception. Among the multitude of, there are three stores that stand out as being either thrifty, charitable or both.

Goodwill Industries International, Inc. is a charitable organization that has been around for over a century. Its goal is to improve the lives of the less fortunate by helping to open up opportunities, so they can reach their full potential through the power of work.

In keeping with this goal, Goodwill recently announced they had received funding to provide training programs that would help workers meet the needs of ever-expanding green industries.

"To adapt to the new green economy, workers need to add a whole new set of skills," President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International Jim Gibbons said. "These range from the principles of land management and water conservation techniques to specialized knowledge such as the construction and installation of solar panels."

Though it may not be considered a traditional thrift shop, Burke's Outlet is another store where consumers can browse through a selection of clothing at affordable prices.

"I probably come to Burke's one or two times a month," Commerce resident Vicente Ramirez said. "I come and just shop around for a good price. With the economy as bad as it is, it is nice to be able to save a little money."

Another prominent thrift store in Commerce is My Sister's Closet. It is a national organization that takes donations of slightly used women's clothing and resells them out of boutique-style storefronts.

According to University Police Department Crime Information Officer Jason Bone, My Sister's Closet, which was once located in the shopping center near Chicken Express, burned down sometime around Christmas and is now being rebuilt off of Culver St.

The new location of My Sister's Closet will be reopening in roughly three weeks in the shopping center opposite Lulu's Burgers. Goodwill and Burke's Outlet are located in the shopping plaza near Chicken Express.