Originally Posted by wrk101

If you understand how most thrift stores work, its not about supplying inexpensive items to needy people. Instead, it is all about collecting donations (free goods) and selling them. Then the money from selling is used to fund their worthy causes. In the case of Goodwill, its about helping people enter the workforce. Some work in the back of the Goodwill store, picking up donations, sorting clothes, marking sizes and so on. Then you have the people that work in the store itself.

So the more customers they get (and the more donations they get) the better. Otherwise, overflow items end up either being sent overseas (clothes mainly) or the dumpster (where Goodwill ends up paying landfill charges). The Goodwills around here need more customers, as donations outweigh sales.

The needy folks helped by Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc, are not the store customers. They are the people working in the stores and the people they assist with the money they make from the stores. If you look around the store at the customers, you will see a cross section of society. Check the parking lot, same thing.

So if you agree with the mission of the charity (Salvation Army, etc), then donate to them. I like both of their missions, so I donate to both several times a month. But if your goal is to help needy people get bicycles, then find a local bicycle co-op. Many of them have the mission of getting bicycles into the hands of those less fortunate.