Navigating Tough Times - Clothing

Navigating Tough Times - Clothing

There are more people than ever who are struggling to make ends meet in Cherokee County.  Last week’s blog dealt with a very immediate need – food.  This time, I’m focusing on those who are in need of low cost or no cost clothing.  What I’m leading up to are resources for education and/or employment.  If you want to work, you have to eat to keep up your strength and you have to have the clothes to find work.  For those who are too young, elderly or disabled to work, my hope is that you may find solace from the storm within the resources listed here.  The overview presented here is in no way intended to be a fully comprehensive list of what’s available to Cherokee County residents; however, it is a beginning if you are in need of clothes or know someone who is. 

As in last week’s article, there is a flip side to this information.  Perhaps you are blessed with more than you know what to do with or you’ve lost weight, changed jobs (and wardrobes!), children have outgrown clothes – whatever the reason, you may have gently used clothing that could easily be used by someone in need.  As you look at this list, perhaps you can find a church, cooperative, thrift store or consignment shop  to which you might consider donating your
clothing items, including clothes, shoes, purses, and belts.  Check with your tax advisor to determine valuation of donated items for 2012 tax deductions.   

The resources are presented in two sections:  Clothes Closets (usually operated by churches or cooperatives) and Thrift/Consignment Stores. Although contact information is furnished, please check with each resource to establish operating hours, eligibility requirements, and/or discounts available. 

CLOTHES CLOSETS

Fairy Tale Endings:  Fairy Tale Endings is a non-profit organization formed in Cherokee County, Georgia to assist teens in attending their school dances & proms with confidence by providing dresses, shoes, accessories and donated services such as hair and makeup for their special event. We offer private fitting sessions where one on one each girl will pick out the dress of their dreams, shoes & accessories. The organization is run by adults so each girl that comes through the program will be kept completely confidential. No high school peers are involved in this program.  Contact information:  Lindsey Haas, Founder 678-933-1962   Website:  http://www.fairytaleendings.org/Index.html

First Baptist Church of Woodstock: This is a clothing ministry to the needy as well as a Thrift Store to the general public. The Clothes Closet is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9AM-3PM, Tuesday from 10AM-3PM and the last Saturday of each month from 9AM-12NOON.  Contact information:  678-494-2696   Website: http://www.fbcw.org/clothes-closet/

Heritage Presbyterian Church: HPC has recently opened up a Clothing
Closet with free, clean clothes and accessories to needy families in Cobb and Cherokee counties.  To keep this Clothing Closet stocked, we need a constant supply of clean, gently used clothing. Please help our new community outreach remain successful with your generous donation of men, women and children’s clothing. Please join us in becoming part of the solution. If you have any questions, please contact our church office: 770-926-3558   Website:  http://www.heritagepres.com/

MUST Ministries:  MUST provides new and used clothing free of charge to Cherokee County residents in need.  Families and individuals may obtain clothing through the clothes closet during regular service hours (10 am - 2 pm, Mon - Fri). While clothing allotments per individual are generous, quantities of specific clothing items are often limited.  Photo ID and proof of residence are required
documentation, along with social security numbers for everyone requesting
service, or birth certificates for children.  Individuals can receive (twice a year) four pairs of jeans, a coat, a pair of sneakers, four pairs of underwear, four pairs
of socks and twenty other items of clothing.  Beyond their initial allotments, persons who are homeless can access additional clothing resources on a week by week basis.  Contact number:  770-479-5397   Website:  http://www.mustministries.org/

CONSIGNMENT/THRIFT STORES

Thrift stores are different from clothes closets in that the clothes are not free, but
are gently used clothes re-sold at greatly reduced prices.  Many of the thrift stores offer senior discounts on selected days or other special offers; contact the individual store for details.  Consignment stores can offer even more value, as they will accept clothing in very good condition to re-sell (they take a percentage of the profit for sorting and tagging and merchandising), so you can make money by selling clothes you no longer want while shopping for something “new” to your closet at greatly reduced prices. 

Again, in alphabetical order, the consignment/thrift shops are:

Baby and More Thrift Store:  Offers quality infant, children’s (2T-5T) and maternity clothes, nursery equipment and bedding, toys, books, and videos and more!  Contact number:  770-517-4450   Website:  http://babyandmorethriftstore.com/

Bargain Basement of Woodstock United Methodist Church: 
Open Thursday-Saturday on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of each month in the basement of Latimer Hall, Bargain Basement offers quality clothing and accessories at bargain prices (a ministry of Woodstock United Methodist Church).  Contact number:  404-663-1179   Website:  http://www.gbgm-umc.org/woodstockumc-ga/thriftstore.html

Cherokee County Humane Society Thrift Store: With a Bark Park for animals, a fresh produce garden, and gently used clothing for sale, the CCHS Thrift Store is celebrating its eighth year and all purchases help the lost/abandoned animals of Cherokee County.  Contact number:  770-592-8072   Website:  http://www.cchumanesociety.org/thrift-store/the-thrift-store/

Goodwill Industries: Goodwill has three locations in Cherokee County: Canton, Hickory Flat, and Woodstock.  Each week a different color tag is discounted; Tuesdays are senior days with an additional savings of 30% for those over age 55.  Contact numbers:  Canton store – 770-493-8801; Hickory Flat store: 770-479-6300; Woodstock store: 770-874-0262; Holly Springs Donation Center: 770-860-0224   Website:  http://www.ging.org/

Park Avenue Thrift:  Park Avenue offers 50% discounts to seniors over 55 on Wednesdays and extra discounts are available; check with store. 
Contact number:  770-517-5538

Revive Consignment: Revive is a ministry of Jubilee Church-Atlanta and sells quality clothing for its consignors while offering great value to its customers.  Profits are used to help local residents.  Contact number:  770-928-0128   Website: http://reviveconsignment.com/

World Class Consignments:  World Class also offers consignors the opportunity to sell goods while shopping for bargains.  Call for details!  Contact number:  770-926-4180   Website: http://worldclassconsignments.com/

Whatever your needs, whatever your tastes, there should be something here for just about everyone!  For those who are blessed, please donate, donate, donate!!!!  Your gently used clothing might make a huge difference in the life of someone in need.  Happy shopping! 

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