hat tip, seattle weekly: http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/threadcount/2008/09/goodwill_comes_to_the_ave.php

Man, they scooped me on the big Goodwill story! But did they have a picture of Pooh?!

My dog would tear that ball of Pooh to shreds in a minute flat. He has a personal vendetta against stuffed animals.

Okay, I've shopped at Goodwill for silly t-shirts and halloween pieces like everyone else, but I thought that, at its core, Goodwill was where low-income people could buy cheap things. It seems weird to me that they would actually try to reach out to young vintage shoppers.

I found a Swid-Powell sterling silver/gold Ettore Sottsass candlestick at Goodwill here for 99 cents.

Value: $1200

Viva Goodwill!

Old people? The only things I've ever bought at Goodwill are baby clothes.

You people have got to roam beyond Capitol Hill more.

@4: Goodwill was where low-income people could buy cheap things. It seems weird to me that they would actually try to reach out to young vintage shoppers

They sell valuable books (and other items) online. It's not just about selling items to people in need, it's about making money so they can run their other operations.

In any case... where exactly was this bagel place??? Is this the Tommy's location? There hasn't been a bagel place on that block for years and years.

That's how the Goodwill here on Haight Street is. It makes sense. Small space catering to a younger crowd, it'd be dumb to fill it with 80's lamps and mattresses.

I donated a bunch of my childhood stuffed animals to the store in Ballard. I'm both horrified and intrigued by what may have happened to them.

I didn't donate a Pooh Bear however.

Goodwill's more likely just tired of driving to Buffalo Exchange 40 times a day to pick up the unwanted stuff people leave behind.

OMG! I totally LOVE that ball of Pooh!!! I want one!!! It is soooo cute! Like when they make dresses out of stuffed hello kitty dolls!!! I think the ball of pooh would be nice for my bed so it could be like a giant pillow!!! AWESOME!!!

Judging by their usual aptitude at pricing (see Jubilation's comment above, and conversely my extensive experience gawping at broken, worthless "collectibles" in the glass case) I expect this to be a smashing success.

For those who might be shopping for thrift store shopping, I'd like to bring attention to the mission statement of Goodwill of Greater Washington:

Goodwill of Greater Washington's mission is to educate, train, employ and place people with disadvantages and disabilities, creating a stronger workforce and a more vital community while building dignity for the people we serve through the removal of barriers to personal success.

Contrast that with the mission statement of The Salvation Army's Northwest Division:

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Salvation Army's positions on:

abortion:

The Salvation Army holds to the Christian ideals of chastity before marriage and fidelity within the marriage relationship and, consistent with these ideals, supports measures to prevent crisis pregnancies. It is opposed to abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection or for any reason of mere convenience to avoid the responsibility for conception. Therefore, when an unwanted pregnancy occurs, The Salvation Army advises that the situation be accepted and that the pregnancy be carried to term, and offers supportive help and assistance with planning.

homosexuality:

Sexual attraction to the same sex is a matter of profound complexity. Whatever the causes may be, attempts to deny its reality or to marginalize those of a same-sex orientation have not been helpful. The Salvation Army does not consider same-sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teaching.

Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.

marriage and divorce:

God established marriage as a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman, and Himself. The Bible states that the Lord hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Jesus said, ?What God has joined together, let no one separate.? Therefore, we believe that divorce is never God?s intention for our marriages (Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:2-12).

The Salvation Army affirms the New Testament standard of marriage, which is the loving union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. However, we recognize, and scripture affirms, that in tragic or extreme circumstances, divorce may become necessary and even life-saving.

pornography:

The Salvation Army opposes pornography in all of its forms. We believe that human sexuality is a gift of a loving Creator. The Bible presents sexual intimacy as a privilege that is ordained and blessed by God within the context of marriage. Pornography attacks and distorts God's design. It depersonalizes sexuality, emphasizing the carnal to the neglect of loving relationships and commitment.

Pornography is an increasingly harmful scourge on society, endangering and degrading the physical, moral, and spiritual welfare of all those involved. It is clearly linked with prostitution, sexual abuse and assault, and other forms of sexual exploitation. Pornography promotes deviant sex and violence. It harms and demeans those who are portrayed as sexual objects, as well as its users and purveyors.

alcohol and other drugs:

The deliberate misuse of any drugs to induce either oblivion or hallucinatory states is condemned. The physical, mental and emotional disturbances due to such misuse are well known to Salvation Army personnel, who will continue to offer treatment to the victims of addiction, realizing that such practices stem from deep emotional and spiritual problems and are peculiarly common in young persons.

By far the most common drug addiction is to alcohol, and this addiction is on the increase in most parts of the world. The Salvation Army, recognizing both spiritual and temporal dangers inherent in the use of alcoholic beverages, has historically required total abstinence of its soldiers and officers. While not condemning those outside its ranks who choose to indulge, it nevertheless believes total abstinence to be the only certain guarantee against overindulgence and the evils attendant on addiction.

social drinking:

Social drinking has become a widespread problem. Alcohol is being introduced into the home and included in social functions where before it was never permitted.

As the largest abstinence organization in the world, The Salvation Army expects every member to adhere to the pledge of abstinence given when becoming a Salvationist. Part of the influence of The Salvation Army in the world is due to the respect in which it is held for its high standards.

Social drinking to please a host or hostess or a business associate should be ruled out. Alcoholic beverages in any form should not be tolerated within Salvation Army circles.

I want that ball of Pooh!!

I saw that thing at Burning Man, hell yes

Thanks, Phil. I'll be spending my five bucks on mom jeans from Goodwill and not the gawddamn Salivation Army, now.

You could describe the Goodwill across from the downtown library in Portland using those terms. It almost looks like a boutique. It's full of clean, fashionable, quality name brand clothing. Not a mattress to be found anywhere. I don't think they have $5 jeans, though. Glad you're getting in on some of the action.

Salvation Army junk is waaaay overpriced anyway.

I get the idea of Goodwill wanting to cater to "hip young students" and whatnot, but they still need to keep their stuff relatively cheap (underpriced candle sticks not withstanding) in order to make their stuff AFFORDABLE to the average college student, who, as a general rule, isn't loaded with cash - if they were, they wouldn't be shopping at Goodwill in the first place.

I heart Kyle!!! hahaha

If it's like the other "hip, trendy" thrift stores around here, it will be full of yard sale leftovers priced at 80% retail. The housewares department will feature thirty parallel printer cables, a dozen cordless phones with dead batteries, three locksets without keys, two flatbed scanners that only work with Windows 95, four popcorn poppers and two bread makers in "like new" condition, an electronic children's toy with exploded batteries, and a plug-in heater that would set your house on fire in thirty seconds.