Local HoCo: A Reader’s Request

I’d love to have readers’ suggestions for thrift / second-hand places in the area, especially for clothes. What options do we have besides 2nd Avenue (or whatever it’s called now?) and Goodwill? And I know about Second Chance (in Baltimore) and Belle Patri (McGaw Rd) for non-clothing. But where else?

Oh! One more idea: Highlight the neighborhood Buy Nothing / freecycle / etc. groups.

This, my friends, is a great idea for a blog post. And it wasn’t even my idea. Can you help?

Second hand/thrift places in Howard County for clothes: 2nd Avenue, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Uptown Cheapskate…what else?

For non-clothing: Belle Patri, ReStore…what else?

For books: Gramps Attic, Second Edition, The Last Word (is there still one at Savage Mill?) Novel Refuge…what else?

Send me your local recommendations and I’ll do a comprehensive listing. Some folks are squeamish about giving presents that are not “brand new” and I’ll admit that you need to know your audience. Is the recipient capable of receiving this with joy? Even among your family and immediate friend group there exist people who would be thrilled and others who might be offended.

Creative reuse is not only economically friendly. It’s also good for the planet. It make take time for attitudes to change. An organization that’s doing a lot to change attitudes is Buy Nothing.

If you haven’t connected with Buy Nothing yet:

We offer people a way to give and receive, share, lend, and express gratitude through a worldwide network of hyper-local gift economies in which the true wealth is the web of connections formed between people who are real-life neighbors.

Freecycle still exists but I haven’t had any contact with them for years because I kept getting my hand slapped for inadvertently “breaking the rules.” It was too much stress. I am inherently a rule follower and living in constant fear of being excommunicated was too much for me. Your experience with Freecycle is probably dependent upon who the moderators are of your particular group.

When I was about six my big sister gave me all of her Barbie dolls and clothes because she was headed to junior high school. I still remember the thrill when I opened that box. Have you ever received a “new to you” gift that delighted you and/or was extremely meaningful? Let me know.

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