The thrift shop Thrift Alley at 314 E. Harvard St. in Glendale is run by the non-profit Assistance League Glendale and has been open since 1964. Thrift Alley, located in the alleyway on the south side of Harvard between Louise and Kenwood, is operational due to donations made by the community. It accepts donations from gently used clothing to designer outfits as well as kitchenware, jewelry and a multitude of various products; it recently sold a large antique safe carried over from when the building was operated as a mortuary! The red brick historical building was renovated to accommodate Thrift Alley as well as the mortuary’s old chapel, which now serves as the chapter house for the volunteers who are members of Assistance League Glendale.

All proceeds from Thrift Alley support Assistance League Glendale’s philanthropic programs that benefit the local community. These programs include a senior citizen monthly lunch, a reading program for young students, student scholarships and a specific program to clothe needy children for the school year.

With the need to look to the future to support their philanthropic programs, the volunteers launched an online shopping store to reach customers beyond their neighborhood and to make shopping more fun and convenient. Online shopping has increased with the number of stay-at-home workers and in-person shopping limitations. It is hoped that not only will the online platform generate sales but also it will further spread the word about Assistance League Glendale. New members to the chapter are always welcomed to help with its philanthropic programs. Call President Carol Svatora at (586) 202-8764 for more info.

Accessing the online shop is easy. Detailed descriptions are provided for each item and customers choose shipping, including the option for in-store pickup during the days the brick-and-mortar store is open (Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.).

The online store can be found at assistance-league-glendale.myshopify.com. Some current listed items include Citizen watches for men and women, a porcelain horse collection, collector plates, Michal Kors and Tory Burch shoes as well as a few men’s designer coat and shirts.

Provided by Danette ERICKSON