Store Spotlight: The Assistance League of Charlotte
A number of thrift stores from around the country have joined ThriftStoreGuide.com, coming from various backgrounds and with distinct missions. The beauty of thrifting is that there are so many different types of stores with a variety of missions and backgrounds. We will occasionally feature different stores from around the country and would love recommendations on your favorites as well… who knows, we may highlight your go to store in the future!
The Assistance League of Charlotte, North Carolina is one of the first stores that we’d love to highlight. It’s actually more than a secondhand store, it’s an organization that helps others. What sets this organization apart is that they not only sell items through their thrift store, but also use the money they earn from the store to provide children with proper clothing, food, and legal counsel. This is so that they can lift themselves up from poverty and become self sufficient.
Being in Charlotte is key: 40% of the city’s children of color are poor, and nearly 5,000 of those are homeless. Additionally, out of the fifty largest metropolitan areas in the US, Charlotte has the worst economic mobility, meaning that those children are likely to stay in poverty. The Assistance League of Charlotte is working to change that. The organization serves twenty-seven high risk elementary schools as part of the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, and offers a number of programs to provide the students with the best outlook possible.
Operation School Bell is one of the organization’s programs that provides children with new clothes to encourage self confidence and class attendance. Another, Technology Access Program, operates through Assistance League, making computers and electronics available to low income individuals by refurbishing donations. Computer literacy is a necessary skill in today’s market that these individuals might not have access to otherwise.
One of the most unique programs that Assistance League offers is Mecklenburg County Teen Court. Instead of a permanent criminal record, youths with no previous convictions can be a part of this program after they admit their guilt and take responsibility for their actions. They learn to take accountability and work as part of a team. The recidivism rate of the program is low, and young individuals who complete it have a higher chance of pursuing a fulfilling, law-abiding life.
Photos from Assistance League of Charlotte
The Assistance League of Charlotte, North Carolina, accepts and sells books; men’s, children’s, and women’s clothing; and furniture. It has also had the honor of being named the best thrift store in the Charlotte area two years running. You can also find some of the store’s most unique finds online, so you don’t even need to be in the South to find a great deal – just go to Craigslist and type in “Assistance League” in the search box. Additionally, you can make tax-deductible donations to the nonprofit here.
Kelly FIfield
Thank you for highlighting Assistance League of Charlotte. I am a member volunteer and love everything about this organization. We work tirelessly for the area at risk children and their families. With people like you helping to tell our story we will continue to be able to help!