By Susan Summers
Confirmed shoppers (and you know who you are) generally are not all about spending money for the sake of it. We are about savoring the shopping experience—touching the fabrics, imagining where we would place home décor items, choosing thoughtful one-of-a-kind gifts for special friends. Research supports the fact that this shopping makes us feel good. Dr. Scott Bea, Psy.D., of the Cleveland Clinic reports that retail shopping can lessen sadness by giving us a sense of control. It also can boost our mood through the release of Dopamine, the neurotransmitter in our brains that makes us feel good. So where might you find a convenient source of Dopamine? At Vail Depot Thrift Store, of course!
Mother’s Day is around the corner and the thrift store is full of fashions and unique items to delight everyone’s mother. You may want to treat yourself to something unexpected, from a new handbag to a book title or a tool. The experience will leave you feeling even better knowing that your purchases help to fund the programs of Resources Vail Food Bank.
Currently the thrift store hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm, and Saturdays, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, but will be expanded based on our staffing capacity. (More volunteers are needed in the Vail Depot Thrift Store to get us back to pre-pandemic service levels. We’d love to see you join us!) Some thrilling live, online Facebook sales also take place occasionally on Thursday evenings. Be sure to check the web site for current thrift store hours, and Resources Facebook page for live online sales information.
Finally, remember that you can say goodbye to gently-used clothing, accessories, small furniture items, small appliances and so much more by donating them to the Vail Depot Thrift Store. To learn more about what can be accepted, or to learn about the work of Greater Vail Community Resources, visit the web site: www.resourcesvail.org.
Susan Summers is a ReSources board member and Vail resident who loves golf and the beauty of the Sonoran desert. Before her retirement, she served as dean of the College of Extended Learning at California State
University, San Bernardino.
