Dress for Less

Whether you’re going out on a date, to a party, or even to a wedding, our stores have a wide variety of items for every special occasion!

Dressing well often means paying a high price for that designer dress, suit, or adorable pair of shoes, but at our resale stores, dressing well doesn’t have to hurt your wallet!

On a recent visit to our Vinnie’s Community store located on Bendix Drive, I found a large selection of men’s suit coats and dress pants. We also have a nice selection of ties and dress shoes to compliment your outfit.

For women, our stores feature everything from casual dresses to prom dresses and even wedding dresses! Look at this gorgeous David’s Bridal beaded wedding dress from Vinnie’s on Bendix! Believe it or not, it was only $139!! To complete your look, we also have high heels, flats, purses, and jewelry in a variety of colors and brands.

If decide to shop in our resale stores for dress clothes, keep the following in mind:

• Compared to everyday clothing, prices will seem high. Paying $25 for a blazer may seem like a lot of money when compared to a $2 shirt, but remember that dress clothes cost more at department stores too. Instead of comparing the cost to other items in our stores, compare what you are paying in our stores to what you would pay in a department store. Take advantage of the good deal!
• Shop with an open mind. You may be searching for dressy clothes, but don’t narrow your search down to a certain color or brand. If you have your heart set on an apple red cocktail dress, you may miss a great deal on a brand name classic little black dress!
• Don’t be discouraged if you can’t find anything. Our donations are unpredictable; we never know what we’re going to receive. As a consumer, you might find several things you love or nothing! This is a perfect reason for you to visit our stores often!

Remember, when you shop at a St. Vincent de Paul resale store, you are supporting those in need. All of the profits from our stores are reinvested back into our programs.

Happy Shopping!

A Look Back at our 2014-2015 Fiscal Year

As we approach the end of our fiscal year, we thought it would be a perfect time to take a look back at some of the things we were able to accomplish this past year.

• A third resale store, Vinnie’s Community Store, was opened on Western Avenue.
• The Ardmore Distribution Center and resale store moved to Bendix Drive.
• In partnership with The Center for the Homeless, we began a 6-8 week Transition to Work Program that provides valuable on the job training for individuals living at the Center for the Homeless. Participants gain job skills while working in our Western Avenue resale store. Already this program has seen success, with one individual graduating from the program and finding a full-time maintenance job at a local business.
• We launched our first ever virtual food drive through Amazon, bringing in more than 500 pounds of food for our pantry.
• 25 children attended our Food for Thought Summer Fun and Enrichment Camp, learning about nutrition and nature.

And most notably, we held our first Vinnie’s Runway as part of the 7^th Annual Legacy Dinner and Silent Auction in April 2015. Vinnie’s Runway highlighted 16 individuals who have a meaningful connection to SVDP, whether their connection is through volunteering or through a community partnership. Each Vinnie’s Runway participant aimed to raise $5,000 from friends, family, and others in the community.

Thrifting

Shopping at a St. Vincent de Paul Resale Store can be overwhelming, but it can also be extremely rewarding! If you want to make the most out of your next trip, keep reading to see helpful tips and tricks about shopping at a resale store.

1. Bring a Friend. Shopping with a friend can make the experience much more enjoyable. A friend can tell you whether or not something looks good on you, can help you pick out items, and can talk you into that leopard print dress you might not buy on your own. Bringing someone along when you’re resale shopping also makes the time go buy quicker. Plus, you can catch up on each other’s lives while you shop!

2. Be patient. It’s not as easy to navigate a resale store when compared to shopping at a department store. However, there is a much wider variety of styles in resale shops. To find what you’re looking for, it might take twice as long, but you won’t spend nearly as much money. Try tackling the store one section at a time until you find what you need. Give yourself enough time to shop so that you don’t feel rushed.