Thrift stores report slowdown in number of donations following Christmas

Local thrift stores blessed with a large number of donated items before Christmas are seeing the annual slowdown come quickly as the holiday season comes to a close.

The slowdown means a break for staff, store managers say, but they still hope the giving won't stop.

Managers of thrift stores like the Salvation Army, Teen Challenge and the Safe House for Women, that all fund local assistance programs, say the shopping and buying falls off like at regular retailers, but so do the donations.

"We are usually lighter during that time," Elizabeth Hileman, manager of the Safe House for Women Thrift Store, said of the period after Christmas.

While thrift store storage spaces are stockpiled from Christmastime donations, the store still needs regular donations year-round, she said.

Teen Challenge student Chase Kloskin works to restock the music section Tuesday at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store in Cape Girardeau. (Kristin Eberts)

Dora Sides, manager of the Salvation Army thrift stores in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, said items are put back all through the year for when the donations slow after Christmas.

At Teen Challenge, thrift store manager Sheila Kaiser said this is not a normal year.

"Right after Christmas we usually do get a lot of things," she said. But so far Tuesday things had been slow.

Many local thrift stores experienced a significant rise in sales in December, mostly because of the state of the economy and more people shopping secondhand, managers say. But there is a large dip in donations and sales in January and February, and that usually won't change until around March.

According to a survey conducted in the late fall by a collaborative not-for-profit research group on charitable giving nationwide, most charitable organizations received the majority of their total contributions from October through December. Around half of all organizations reported a drop in total donations for the year. While the year-end giving is important, according to the survey, it likely won't recoup a decrease.

Volunteer Shirley Heise works on sorting through donated clothing Tuesday at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store in Cape Girardeau.

Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, said people should remember that any time is a good time to give, particularly in those months following Christmas, when it is not really highlighted.

Food banks also see a significant dropoff in activity after the holidays.

"Let's just say that we fade from really, really black to red. We are kind of like the retailers when it comes to donations," said Karen Green, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Food Bank.

Before Christmas, and through the end of the year, donations are still strong, she said. It's the time of year when giving to charities are at the top of everyone's mind, as is their tax situation and who they want to generously support, she said. But after Dec. 31, things get quiet.

Kathleen Barnard shops Tuesday at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store in Cape Girardeau.

"The donations just fade away," she said.

The only thing that seems to change that, she said, is when something negative, like a natural disaster, occurs.

"And we don't want that to happen," Green said.

During December, the staff of the food bank held so many mobile food pantries for its 16-county coverage area that it was exhausting, Green said. In January, things get back to normal, and a couple will be held each month. But the food bank hopes to do a minimum of four each month, Green said.

"Hunger is a matter that ought to have our attention all year long. We live in the land of plenty, and there is plenty, but there seems to be a distribution problem," Green said. "We try to fix that year-round for families who need it."

Green said donations of money or food to the food bank helps any area agency that needs help feeding people on a regular basis.

eragan@semissourian.com

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