When you donate to TRU Thrift Shop, your generosity extends far beyond what you might see on our sales floor. While many donated items find new homes through our store, what happens to the items that don’t sell tells an even more powerful story of community care and environmental stewardship.
The Giving Room: Where Nothing Goes to Waste
At the heart of our sustainability mission is TRU Thrift’s “Giving Room” – a dedicated space where volunteers work tirelessly to give as many donations as possible a meaningful second life. What many shoppers might not realize is just how far this commitment extends, with an extensive network of over 30 community partnerships.
In the Giving Room, volunteers carefully sort items that cannot be sold in-store but still have tremendous value for community organizations. This thoughtful approach means that your donations continue giving long after they leave our shelves.
Stories of Second Lives
Every item tells a story of transformation and purpose:
Comfort for Life’s Transitions: Sheets that can’t be sold find meaningful new purposes – some go to The Natural Funeral to support their green burial services, while others become backings for quilts at Faith Community Church, providing warmth to people experiencing homelessness.
Supporting Families: Baby clothes that have outgrown our sales floor bring joy to new families through Gabriel House, while diapers and infant care items support parents through Sister Carmen Community Center.
Meeting Basic Needs: Shoes make their way to Haven Ridge (formerly Feet Forward) and other organizations supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. Towels, blankets, and toiletries find their way to All Roads (formerly Boulder Shelter for the Homeless), providing dignity and comfort to those in transition.
Building New Homes: When individuals transition from homelessness into their first apartments, they often arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Through partnerships with Boulder Housing Partners and Emergency Family Assistance, dishes, household items, and basic necessities from our Giving Room help transform empty spaces into homes.
Nurturing Growth: Children’s books bring literacy and joy through multiple organizations, while art supplies support creative expression at Mental Health Partners and through TGTHR (formerly Attention Homes) for at-risk youth.
A Web of Care
Our network includes specialized partnerships that address unique community needs:
- Pet Care: The Boulder Valley Humane Society receives pet food, toys, and bedding.
- Health & Mobility: Medical equipment like wheelchairs and walkers go to organizations like Bridge House and Good Health Will.
- Environmental Responsibility: Through CHaRM, glass and ceramics are properly recycled, while Eco-Cycle receives plain t-shirts for their programs.
- Safety: A Precious Child receives car seats for proper disposal and recycling.
The Volunteers Who Make It Happen
This remarkable system works because of dedicated volunteers like Paula, Donna, Cheryl, Bob, and many others who coordinate pickups, deliveries, and relationships with our partner organizations. They understand that the woman donating her mother’s dishes isn’t just clearing out a cabinet – she’s potentially helping furnish someone’s first apartment after homelessness.
Your Donation’s Ripple Effect
When you donate to TRU Thrift Shop, you’re not just supporting hospice care – though proceeds certainly do fund TRU Hospice’s compassionate end-of-life services. You’re also:
- Reducing waste by keeping usable items out of landfills
- Supporting over 30 local nonprofits with needed supplies
- Helping individuals transition from homelessness to housing
- Supporting families in crisis
- Providing resources for at-risk youth
- Contributing to pet welfare and community health initiatives
The Bigger Picture
The Giving Room represents something bigger than efficient donation processing – it’s a testament to what’s possible when organizations work together with intention and care. Every partnership was thoughtfully developed based on specific community needs and each organization’s mission.
This network ensures that your generosity has the maximum possible impact. A single bag of donations might contribute to hospice care through store sales, help a family in crisis through the Giving Room partnerships, and support environmental sustainability through proper recycling – all while strengthening the fabric of our Boulder County community.
Join Our Mission
The next time you visit TRU Thrift Shop at 5565 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, know that you’re part of something much larger than a typical thrift store transaction. Whether you’re shopping, donating, or volunteering, you’re supporting a comprehensive approach to community care that honors both people and planet.
Your donated sweater might warm someone at Haven Ridge. Your extra dishes might help furnish a formerly homeless individual’s first apartment. Your children’s outgrown books might spark joy for a child at Sister Carmen Community Center.
This is the true magic of the Giving Room – where generosity goes further, waste is reduced, and community needs are met through the simple act of giving thoughtfully and receiving gratefully.
TRU Thrift Shop is located at 5565 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303. For more information about donations or volunteer opportunities, call 303.604.5353. To learn more about our Giving Room partnerships or to suggest additional community organizations that could benefit, contact Paula at gmputter@gmail.com.