Social Service League Store

Well, there’s always a little truth to whatever people say. Has the store changed. Yes. Are prices higher, yes. Still cheaper than anywhere else I can think of. Is the staff rude. No. You kinda’ have to take it on yourself to make an effort to get to know them.
Lawrence has changed a lot. It’s become a refuge for the likes of Johnson county types with way to much money and no conception of what its’ like to be poor. In fact, I’d say the majority of Lawrence people are as well to do as anywhere in Kansas now. North of the river used to be a fairly mixed community with many of the cities African American population living there. It has been gentrified beyond recognition. It will continue to happen.
A large share of people coming into the thrift shop now are young and certainly not needy in any way, with I suspect a reasonable income. I’ve found the people who work there are ready to bargain with you, and will and do, work to accommodate those who are in need. In fact, I think they go out of their way to make sure you get what you need, if you are in need. Those who come here slumming, looking for a bargain, who have money but are just cheap, maybe they need to go out on the strip on Iowa to shop.
Growing up my dad had a trash route he ran on Saturdays. It was populated by about 30 of our cities wealthy individuals. Once I asked him about why a few of his clients were so cheap. My comment was, «Dad, those people are so stingy, they are rich, why?» He smiled and looked down at me and said, «Well, how do you think they got that way?»
So… if your slumming and can afford the very small increase, pay it… If not, shop downtown. The sooner, the fancy stuff you buy will wind up here and you’ll be able to but it back as a «bargain!»
S.S.L., It’s a little quirky, but it’s fun to shop there. I’m sure I’ll continue to do so until I can’t anymore. In the meantime, remember, they help other people with your precious ducats. You can always ask for more from the parents.

As someone who frequented the league almost every day in years past, and still frequents all other thrift stores, I can say this is now, without a doubt, one of the worst thrift stores in Lawrence (rivaling only goodwill). Prices and selection are both terrible, presumably due to influence from the board members and current employee

I am a board member and volunteer at the store and I think it’s unfortunate that people have given this organization terrible reviews (which can have long-​term negative effects) with erroneous information at hand. Half the clothing, linens and house wares that leave the store do so free of charge on vouchers. We are the only organization that issues vouchers to all the other organizations so that they may send their needy people to us for help. Still, ½ the vouchers we issue we write ourselves — often times to people who don’t even ask for one. Like, a fellow that comes in with a light coat on when it’s freezing outside, may be asked, «Do you need a heavy coat?» Or the young couple who needs a stroller, but cant’ afford one, is told «I can write you a voucher for it.» Furthermore, shirts are not $ 4. T-​shirts are $ 1; Dress shirts are $ 2; jeans are $ 2; baby clothes are .25 each. We price our regular wares at ½ the price of the other non-​profit thrift stores.
The issue of contention most pointed to is our relatively new Boutique area where the more expensive items are priced to pay for the rest of the store. People often do not understand what this area exists for. We self-​subsidize with the Boutique. We do not get money from outside organizations to run our daily operations; we have to make it ourselves with the store. The Boutique when it sells a 14K ring or a nice dress, is paying for our ability to give away clothes on vouchers and for our ability to price core items at ½ the other stores. It not only pays for overhead (salaries, utilities, monthly maintenance) it helps pay for our eye glass program where we pay for glasses for children and adults who cannot afford them. When someone buys something from the Boutique they are supporting the homeless with that purchase and the money it generates just as surely as someone who donates the coat we give to a homeless person.
Another thing that has changed is we now have a donation receiving and sorting room. This was instituted because we had no effective way of protecting valuable donations that came to us. In the old system as things came in, they were immediately put out on the shelf by whoever happened to be volunteering or by community service workers, often times without being reviewed by someone who could discern their value. Our manager was incredibly busy, so there was no way she could possibly look at every single item that came in. Putting these items on the self, where it was difficult to watch them, led to a disproportionate amount of theft in the store. Now, with a sorting area, valuable items are protected and, we can also remove dirty or damaged clothing and kitchenware much more effectively so our racks ad shelves have a considerably higher quality of product.
The SSL has been in existence since the 1800’s and had a respected store operating since 1930. The current Board has physically put more work into the store and the organization as a whole than any board before it. The facilities were in dire need of repair and it was the board members and a few incredibly generous local contractors that cleaned, painted and repaired the front two buildings — an enormous amount of effort that took months of daily work.
If anyone has questions, I invite them to stop in, call or write me; we would be glad to tell you more. Please come into the store and decide for yourselves — everyone is always welcome.
This is my personal view explained and therefore I am signing my name: Meg Davis

Since they moved back to their regular location they think they are a boutique. Prices way to high. The Salvation Army is cheaper. Stopped going! This store has no intentions on helping the poor. They can’t afford it now.

Longer hours than St. John’s but it’s still easy to miss these guys. Stop by Wed-​Fri 9am-​4pm, Sat 9am-​2pm, hours may vary.
Stuff here is super cheap. As a fiend for glassware, this was my haven while looking for unique, inexpensive drinking glasses. Bargain-​seekers, costume hunters may love them for their clothing section. Some of the stuff may look a little rough but there are some treasures to be found here as well.