Reading Thrift Shop Gets Huge Donation From Fleetwood Rotary Club

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An extremely rare donation graced the loading dock this week of a nonprofit shop dedicated to providing clothes to Reading’s homeless and impoverished.

An entire van filled with men’s clothing backed up to the rear door of the City Thrift Shop, 314 Penn St., and was unloaded by Jim Long of Rockland Township and shop volunteer Jan Buskirk of Wyomissing.

Donations of men’s clothing are the hardest to come by, said Christine Leonhardt, who began managing the shop about eight years ago.

A few bags at once is rare, let alone an entire cargo van.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=486631

Thrifty Threads: Viral Rap Song Inspires Used-Clothing Trend

GRANDPA sweaters. Pro Wings, with Velcro.  Fur coats, extra fluffy.  Fringed brown jackets.  Footie pajamas – for adults.

All cheap.  All used.  All . . . the height of fashion?

Absolutely, according to the song “Thrift Shop,” which occupied the No. 1 spot on both Billboard’s Hot 100 and R&B/hip-hop charts for most of February.

The creation of Seattle rapper Macklemore, producer Ryan Lewis and vocalist Wanz (who performs the addictive, Barry White-like hook), “Thrift Shop” is more than a sketch of West Coast trends, more than a YouTube sensation, more than a huge crossover hit.

It’s an anthem for a sort of secondhand style that’s been part of Philly culture for a while now.  And, it’s getting bigger by the day.

Read more:  http://www.philly.com/philly/style/20130226_Thrifty_Threads__Viral_rap_song_inspires_used-clothing_trend.html