Donations Needed for Together We Cope 'Nu2U' Thrift Shop

With a winter that’s hanging on longer than usual, it’s easy to feel grumpy and long for warm weather. But if you can see crusty gray snow on the ground, it’s actually a signal that the time is right for something that can make you feel surprisingly better.

Pull out a box or a bag and head to your closet for spring cleaning, the annual chance to give away the clothes and household belongings that have lost their appeal but would make a great find for someone shopping at a thrift store like Nu2U, the Tinley Park shop that benefits Together We Cope.

“People who drop off donations tell us it makes them feel really good to support our social service agency because they know the money goes to a good cause,” said Pat Hosman, Nu2U manager. “For a lot of them, spring cleaning with Together We Cope in mind is an annual event.”

What’s particularly satisfying for donors is passing along items that are sure to be a hit in the store, like gently used children’s clothing or “household gems” like their grandmother’s table linens, which are enormously popular among young adult shoppers with an eye for vintage house wares. “Some of them have been ‘thrifting’ since high school, when they did it for fun, but now their tastes have developed,” she said.

The constant change in merchandise is part of the draw for shoppers, and Nu2U volunteers find it easy to replenish the stock daily. And while the donation—and quick sale—of some unusual items prove you can never tell what will strike someone’s fancy, Hosman said, shoppers are always drawn to seasonal items first. 

“Right now, people are looking for spring and summer clothes like shorts, sandals, even bathing suits—the same things they’re shopping for anywhere. Everyone’s looking forward to warmer weather.”

That’s what makes the final cold days of spring so valuable for those who want to clear out some of the clutter they’ve accumulated. Tackle it now, when it’s too chilly to get outside, and when the warm weather arrives, you’ll be able to head out and enjoy it knowing you’ll come home to a lighter, more spacious and cleaner house.

Donations are accepted at Together We Cope, 17010 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; from 2 to 6 pm on Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Together We Cope is a nonprofit agency based in Tinley Park that assists families in crisis from 25 south suburban communities through a food pantry, resale shop and funding for some issues like mortgage, rent and utility bills. Further information is at www.togetherwecope.org.