Sign that reads "Reasons to thrift: 1. Save Money 2. Save the World" on top of clothes ()
Volunteering can be such a fulfilling activity. Popular among frugal families and treasure finders alike, thrift stores are a place where you can bring a couple of dollars and leave with new-found possessions, upcycling projects (or maybe just a much-needed coffee pot). I interviewed Ellen van Kampen-Hissink from Ramstein Enlisted Spouse Association’s (RESA) Thrift Store, and she shared some insights into what it was like to volunteer with the store.
Ellen has been with the thrift store since Summer 2021 but began working with thrift stores in 2018 at SHAPE Belgium and has been an avid thrift shopper herself for 20 years. At SHAPE, she noticed that the thrift store sponsored the sports programs her sons participated in, and her interest grew from there. The RESA thrift store is a mix of employees and volunteers, and everyone handles a variety of tasks. Ellen does everything from “running carts,” which is taking the sorted donated items and placing them on the sales floor, to being an extra set of hands in the store and offering her multi-lingual skills to communicate with German-speaking customers.
Volunteering with the thrift stores allows people to not only give back to their local community but also provides them with a new and stronger skill set. Retail, book-keeping and customer service skills gained through volunteering “look good on a resume” or offers volunteer hours for soldiers who need them for promotion opportunities, according to Ellen.
When asked about the fulfilling aspects of volunteering with a thrift store, Ellen stated that her work “makes me feel appreciated” and provides a “sense of belonging.” With a constantly PCS’ing population, there is always an opportunity to meet new people seeking to find a coffee pot or some seasonal clothes while they wait for their household goods to arrive. The low prices of the items in the store allow families to make the most of their purchases and can help turn their temporary residences on or off-post from “a house to a home,” according to Ellen.
Ellen shared stories of children coming into the store with one to three dollars and just watching the joy on the children’s faces when they realize that they can “buy something on their own.” The nature of the products also allows for less waste. Why throw away that perfectly good 220-volt microwave when you go back to the States when you can donate it and help reheat leftovers for another family? Also, to know that your donations help fund programs and organizations across the entire Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) can come with a good feeling, too.
The thrift store is a vital component to the community of the post. Profits from the three KMC thrift stores has provided $115,000.00 in scholarships in the past year to the military community. On-installation organizations registered with Ramstein’s 86th Force Support Squadron can apply for welfare grants to fund their programs and events.
The thrift store is constantly receiving new and used items for the community; yet there is not much space to store non-seasonal items and the thrift store kindly requests that you hold onto that jacket that your child grew out of this winter until the cooler weather comes. Do not fret if your donated item doesn’t make it to the sales floor; it is still helping the local community. RESA works with local charities and organizations to get the items into the local German area.
The thrift store is always looking for help. They are open Monday and Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Wednesday 2 p.m.-7 p.m. High school students 16 and older who are looking to volunteer for scouts, school or college applications are encouraged to participate in the store’s Summer Hire Program. Anyone interested in volunteering at the thrift store can go to their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RESAThriftShop, contact the thrift store manager, Paul Berger at resa.manager@gmail.com, or simply visit the store and sign up.
