Thrifting for the Homeless: Homeward Bound Treasures offers a hand up, not a handout

Homeward Bound Treasures is a unique thrift store.  Located in downtown New London, the business, one of many independently owned New London companies part of an organization called Local First, has made its mark on the community by raising money for the city’s homeless and less-fortunate.

Working in partnership with the New London Homeless Hospitality Center (NLHHC), the large and overflowing store donates all its proceeds to the Hospitality Center’s programs, operating as its main fundraiser.  With these funds, the NLHHC is able to run a day shelter and a night shelter, as well as many assistive programs for the homeless.

Since it’s start five years ago, Homeward Bound Treasures (HBT) has become extremely successful. Cathy Zall, the Executive Director at NLHHC, makes it clear that finding customers has not been an issue: “People love thrift stores, so that’s not a problem.”  Zall said the difficulties that HBT has had to face are those that affect any small business: staying focused and organized.

The store itself is an impressive sight.  Situated in an old two-story New London building with the name “Carriage House” stretched across the front in golden letters, the store takes up the entire first floor, using the second for overspill storage.  In the storefront window, items range from a shiny red Cannondale road bike to various pieces of furniture, marked at wonderfully low prices.  It’s hard to pass this store and not want to go in.

The inside of the store is indeed well organized, its layout maintaining a semblance of order despite the unbelievable amount of stuff, including the crowded media section, shelved with  working TVs for $15, record players for $25, and a collection of low-priced VHS tapes, boasting an assortment of classic family flicks such as “Honey, We Shrunk the Kids” and “Free Willy”.

But it is the furniture that takes up the majority of space in the store: old oak drawers for $25, pretty floral-designed lamps for $5.  The prices may be low, but the quality of most everything in the store is high.

Sharon Hathaway, a current volunteer and soon-to-be manager, points towards an imposing, tall wooden hutch, priced at $40. “Tomorrow, this will probably be out on the sidewalk for free,” she explains. “It’s been in here for a while.”

Because Homeward Bound is so well-stocked with donations, it can afford to give away a number of items on a daily basis. This type of action reflects the store’s mission, which, beyond raising money for NLHHC, also encompasses the drive to provide inexpensive furniture to those who really need it.  The mission statement also states that Homeward Bound Treasures will “employ and train our homeless brothers and sisters.”

The need for this kind of operation is certainly evident in New London. Zall estimates that there are around 250 homeless individuals currently in city.  By employing several of these people, the store provides the starting means by which those who are living without housing can begin to work towards one day being homeowners.

In addition to paid staff, Homeward Bound is also helped immensely by volunteers.  “Tell your friends,” Hathaway tells me, “I’m looking to get some volunteers from the students.”