Second Hand Heroes

In the United States, there are currently 25,000 resale thrift stores in operation. Annually, about 1 in 5 Americans will shop at a thrift store. Much like any successful business, the customers are what keep thrift stores in business. Positive aspects like environmental repurposing and community outreach that these stores support, are an integral mission of thrift stores. This project aims to honor the individuals who run these stores that serve as a foster home of discarded objects.

These individuals take in donations, sometimes thought of as trash and curate them into a museum of time-tested tokens, materialized memories and secondhand steals. They work tirelessly and with incredible patience both guiding their staff and assisting customers in need. These ministers of mementos have every class of society come through their doors in search of a great find. Many expressed, that they love what they do and feel blessed to be giving back to their communities, helping our environment and providing opportunities to community members that otherwise would not be available to them.

With this exhibition, I hope you will be inspired to join in this mission of repurposing your own goods by donating them in the boxes below to be part of this greater good in serving your neighbors and helping your environment.

Claire Griffin