02 Sep This Business Model is About Creating Sustainable Compassion

Thrift shopping and repurposing vintage clothing, accessories and furniture certainly have a trendy side—as we all know, everything comes back into fashion at some point.

It’s also a significant step toward decreasing waste and environmental impact. For instance, did you know that the fashion industry produces 10 percent of all of humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply and pollutes the oceans with microplastics? More great reasons to eschew fast fashion and shop more sustainably.

But what resonates most deeply with us about the three Suncoast Hospice Resale Shops in Tampa Bay is that they make compassionate care accessible to those with chronic or advanced illnesses or dealing with grief in our community.

Donations­­­ of goods for sale, volunteer hours and, yes, even our own shopping trips generate more than $1.8 million to provide care for patients, participants and clients of Empath Health. Cleaning out your closet or garage can take on a new meaning when you know without a doubt that your donated items are helping others right here at home.

Because of the 125-150 volunteers at each store—ranging from teenagers to 97 years young!—they can operate the stores with only six paid staff, including store managers and pick-up drivers. Their passionate volunteers take in donations—often hearing the grateful stories of the families and friends of those Empath has cared for—ring up sales, price merchandise, stock shelves and so much more.

The Resale shops operate on a “waste not” principle, and volunteers work hard to recycle as many unsellable items as possible—clothing that doesn’t meet their quality standards or equipment that doesn’t work—so they do not end up in the landfill. In fact, the recycling program is revenue-generating: In 2019, the three stores recycled 17 tons of clothing, books and leather items, nine tons of electronics and almost 10 tons of metal items. Following the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, they received record donations and raised $13,300 through the recycling program!

Empath Health clients not only benefit from the funds raised by the resale shops; if needed, they can choose items from the Shops at no charge. For example, in 2019 more than 17 tons of merchandise were gifted to clients. Needs met have ranged from kitchen items for a Suncoast PACE participant to a comfortable pair of pajamas and slippers for a Suncoast Hospice patient and even a piece of exercise equipment that helped an Empath Home Health patient in their recovery.

So the next time you think you need a new outfit, accessory or gift, maybe consider shopping local in the most sustainable—and compassionate—way possible at Suncoast Hospice Resale Shop.

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