Care and Compassion
One of our specialized ministries has to do with the Mission Thrift Stores.
Below are some questions we are often asked:
Q. Why do you want me to bring you good, usable clothing, household and furniture items that I'm not using?
A. Simple! Because we can get them to people who need them.
Q. What is the purpose of your clothing department?
A. There three distinct purposes and uses for your donations:
a. To ensure that low-income families can shop with dignity and still provide good items for their families (yet all individuals are welcome and encouraged to shop).
b. To make sure that we have items to give to the needy, homeless or fire victims (or other disasters) to meet their needs fully.
c. To take the proceeds from the sale of those items listed in (a) above and help provide food, rent, utilities, transportation, youth services, Bibles and more!
Q. What do you do with my donation?
A. We divide all items into five categories, with "1" being the worst and "5" being the best.
1. Dump - Some of what is given is not usable because of a variety of reasons. Example: Broken furniture and appliances, soiled and worn-out clothing, etc. (It costs us to dispose of these items. Sorry, we don't need these.)
2. Rags - We sell a portion of these clothing items, which may be good but have no real value or are not in demand.
3. Giveaway - These are items that may be good except for style, zipper, buttons, or minor mending needed.
4. Store - These are items which we sell for yard-sale or below-yard-sale prices through our thrift stores.
5. Family Help - Now, what do we do with the very best items? We keep them to give to fire victims and needy families.
Q. So, when, how and where could I bring you a donation?
A. For your convenience, we are open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on some holidays. PLEASE, PLEASE NEVER, NEVER LEAVE YOUR DONATION OUTSIDE OR AFTER CLOSING HOURS. Simply bring your donation to the rear door of the Mission Thrift Store, the Halls Thrift Store or Hidden Treasures Thrift Shop store locations. To insure that your donation goes where it is needed, be sure to always give your donation to Mission staff members. When left outside unattended, it will be stolen, scattered on the parking lot, destroyed by the elements, animals or vandals, etc.
Q. Who sets the value of my donation?
A. We will do it for you as we have since 1961 or we will provide a form for you to do your own. Either way, we will keep a copy for seven years in case the IRS checks your records.
Q. What does my support to you accomplish?
A. It makes what we do successful! We help meet needs 365 days a year!
Q. How do my gifts to you help me?
A. When we receive from you items that are clean, usable, and in good working condition, such as clothing, all kinds of household items, furniture, cars, trucks, boats, houses, land and anything that might be used in our "ministry of help" or sold and turned into cash to pay for community needs, you will receive a fair-market-value receipt that you can file with your income tax return. Because donors receive no goods or services in return for their contribution, all items of value donated to the Mission are 100% tax deductible. For your information: Donations valued at greater than $500 but not over $5,000 require Form 8283 and the Tax Receipt to be filed with the income tax return; donations valued greater than $5,000 require a Form 8283 that has been verified by the receiving agency AND an evaluation by a third-party qualified appraiser. Also, gifts given to a charitable organization cannot be designated by the donor to go to another person or agency.
Q. Who can shop at your stores?
A. Anyone! If you're looking for a bargain, come by and visit. The purchase price of the bargains you find will provide help to those in need.
Mission Thrift Store: 213 W. Cedar St., Dyersburg, TN 38024, Phone 731-285-0734
Dyersburg Thrift Store: 207 W. Cedar St., Dyersburg, TN 38024, Phone 731-288-0726
Hidden Treasures Thrift Shop: 219 S. Mill St., Dyersburg, TN 38024, Phone 731-285-0739
Halls Thrift Store: 113 W. Main St., Halls, TN 38040, Phone 731-836-7079
