I have recently come to find that second hand stores have great one-of-a-kind items.

Not only are they special to the person buying the item but they are usually inexpensive. My recent experience to a local thrift store opened my eyes to much more than just second-hand clothing. There were many themes that I encountered when I visited Children’s Hospital thrift store in downtown Kent and they were very memorable for me.

I am an avid shopper. I shop online, in stores and through catalogs, which is an ongoing thing for me. I never really thought to shop at second-hand stores until my I shopped at Children’s Hospital thrift store in Kent. I stumbled upon it when I was window shopping so of course I was curious to check it out because it seemed like it was a great benefit and they had some interesting furniture inside.

I was surprised when I started browsing at what kind of labels they had and what an affordable price range they had. The thrift store had a quaint charm to it and there were some very interesting items that can be found which I thought made browsing very exciting. This Children’s Hospital thrift store sells men’s and women’s clothing and shoes, small household goods, some furniture, and odds and ends such as books and jewelry.

While I browsed I noticed that this little store was quite busy and the customers varied in age ranges. Some of the customers had smiles and expressions while shopping that I thought gleamed differently from someone just shopping at a regular store. I was drawn to the way people browsed and sorted through items. I think it was because they were more drawn to particular items and knew they’d stand out wearing it or displaying it in their homes. What I also found extraordinary was that the customer service was so warm and friendly. I found out later that they were all volunteers and run Upon browsing I stumbled upon a very beautiful scarf that I had to have. It was only three dollars and I was so pleased with my find. Like I said before, I never really thought about shopping second hand but after my Children’s thrift store experience I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I am more of the thrill seeker when it comes to shopping and there is nothing like buying something brand new, but this was an unusual kind of thrill for me. It was like digging through an old treasure chest that had been buried for years and years and you don’t know what you’ll find.

Now I have come to realize why it is so fun and diverse for people who are avid thrift store shoppers. Don’t get me wrong you have to be patient, have an open mind and have time to browse. Children’s Hospital thrift store has six locations in the Puget Sound area. All of the net proceeds go to Children’s Hospital which is also a great motivator to go out and shop at this thrift store.

Ashley Corona

Kent

• Civil
• Smart
• On-topic
• Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by registering for an account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and drive-by commenters.

As a community site, we ask that the community help by using the "Flag" button on each comment if they feel the comment has violated the rules. You can also use the up and down arrows on each comment to voice your opinion about that particular comment.

Want to tell us something but you don't want it to be public? Talk to us privately.