Thrift store has a message to send

SUPERIOR – The motto posted on the front door of the Women in Timber Thrift Store reads “if you wouldn’t use it, wear it or give it to your best friend, please don’t share it with us” and they are asking whoever is dumping trash on their front step to abide by those words.

Volunteers have found a wide variety of discarded items they can’t use or resell in the store dumped at various spots around the building. Some of what they have found over the years is simply garbage and other waste insensitive people have left and it costs the store money to have the items hauled away.

One volunteer called upon whoever is responsible for the acts of dumping to stop before the costs cause a facility that helps many people in need to close their doors. Joann Merseal said the costs to dispose of the trash are not incidental and in recent years, the problem has gotten worse.

“Last month we spent hundreds of dollars to have the trash disposed of,” Merseal said. “There have been bags of rotten food, damaged furniture, clothes and mattresses that are stained. I guess people are donating their garbage but it costs us a lot of money to have it hauled away.”

Merseal said since a security system was installed, people have simply moved their dumping locations around the store to blind spots in the camera coverage area. She said the store welcomes items that are lightly used but some of what they find left on their doorstep is far too stained, broken or worn to be usable.

“We really appreciate the donations we get but it needs to be in good shape,” Merseal said. “If this dumping continues, we could be hurting badly. It would really hurt the community. People have to buy here because it’s what they can afford. This store is really important to the people around here.”

Merseal and other volunteers said they wanted to deliver a message to whoever was responsible for dumping unusable items and garbage at their facility. The message echoed the motto they have posted on their front door.

“We need people to stop dumping garbage and other junk,” Merseal said. “We are not a dump site. We need people to understand what is and is not a proper donation. This is a second hand store but we only sell things that are in good shape.”