23 Dec January at Experienced Goods Thrift Shop

Art mimicking life for sale at Experienced Goods!

by Jennie Reichman, Shop Staff

The excitement of the holidays has given way to January and we’re gazing down the long road of winter. As we embark on a new year, the darkness and cold of these months give us time to reflect on the struggles and lessons learned from the last one and how they are still informing almost everything we think, do and say. Despite the many publicized and shared incidents of people’s poor behavior and hurtful actions, there seem to be as many or more examples of kindness, generosity and open-heartedness. Experienced Goods was recently the catalyst for just such an outpouring of thoughtfulness.

In early December, we were contacted by a counselor from Brattleboro Union High School. She had been informed by the parents of a student that there was a family of 7 in the community that did not have the money for adequate winter clothing. She and several other counselors and teachers wanted to devise a plan to assist this family and other families in need, but they also wanted to support a local business in the process, and that is where Experienced Goods came in. The counselor proposed to us that she and her co-workers would launch a twofold drive: They would solicit clothing from the high school community, which they would donate to Experienced Goods for us to sell and support Brattleboro Area Hospice. At the same time, they would ask the community to donate money with which they would buy Experienced Goods gift certificates that they would give to the families in need. Those families could then come to our thrift store and use the gift certificates to buy warm, durable clothes that would see them through the winter. We, of course, enthusiastically agreed to this plan, expecting we would be writing up a couple hundred dollars of gift certificates and processing a few bags of clothing. In the end, we received 40 bags of sellable clothing and this small group of educators raised almost $1,200 in monetary donations, with which they bought gift certificates of varying amounts to aid 16 families. To say we were humbled by the resourcefulness of these educators and the generosity of the community is an understatement. This is the true spirit of the season personified, made real by bringing warmth and safety to people in need. Much like the concept of “pay it forward,” this kind of generosity does not ask for compensation or expect reward. It simply sees a need and finds a way to fill it.

All of us here at Experienced Goods are deeply grateful for the support the Brattleboro community gives our wonderful thrift store, and in turn, Brattleboro Area Hospice. We have made it through a hard year that challenged us and stretched us, and we could not have done it without you. We not only survive, but thrive because you continue to shop and donate here, and have let us know in so many ways that we are an important part of your lives. Thank you! We are entering this new year stronger, kinder and hopefully wiser, and best of all, together!