Youth Science Institute Thrift & Gift Ysi

they are out of business!
the signs were there for a few years, declining open hours, the opening of the huge goodwill down the street.
they will be missed.

I think this place is closed. Just tried to go yesterday and there was a for sale/​rent sign up and it was empty :(

Ysi Thrift and Gift is a sweet little shop that is down for an awesome cause!
Come here when you’ve got time to really treasure hunt. It’s a small store but a lot of quality items pass through. My favorite Part of YSI is definitely the book section. Contemporary mixed with classics often for under $ 1.00.
Stop by Peters across the street for a burnt almond cupcake and Starbucks for some tea, and happy hunting!

This place is great for what it means, everything they receive as donations they sell and 100% of proceeds go towards teaching kids about science. They do them at 3 different Bay Area parks so it really does something great for the community. I know this because I volunteer here lol. Things here can be a hit or miss and they do have tons of sales, more than I thought they would host. things are cheaply priced and when they have their 50% off sales people will line up and stock up on their items.
I hate to say it but if you want the goods, keep coming back throughout the day of a sale, because we keep getting things in all day and we will not put it all out at once, and I have seen some great stuff and we wait to put it out ;)

A wonderfully organized and friendly non-​profit thrift shop! A gem in the community.
The very moment I opened the door and walked inside, there was a lot of activity occurring throughout the store. Shoppers, left and right, were taking advantage of the 50% off everything sale. Prices were already cheap as it is, yet the store took an additional 50% off every item! I was completely blown away, in a deep state of awe.
The first section I attacked was books. The books were neatly organized and arranged into different genres: mystery, suspense, non-​fiction, fiction, etc. This makes it much more convenient for shoppers to look for a specific book of interest. It definitely made it a lot easier for me. Not only were books organized in neat fashion, but they were in excellent condition. Book covers and pages weren’t falling out or ripped or anything. I looked for a bit and within a few minutes, came across something that had caught my eye: «Broke» by Glenn Beck.
I took some time skimming through the book, and man, it was interesting. It directly relates to our current economic state in America, as well as everything I had learned from my Political Science class. Glenn Beck takes the same position as my Political Science professor: government corruption is to blame for our economic struggles. Enough about the book, and on to more relevant matters. The book was in superb condition; if it were not for the few blemishes on the book cover, the book would look brand new. Guess how much it cost? Take into account that this book is hard-​covered. Would $ 5 sound reasonable? Well, guess what? The price sticker was $ 1.50. No, it was not mislabeled. The almost-​in-​new-​condition hard-​covered edition of «Broke» by Glenn Beck was only $ 1.50. Take 50% off of that and you get the book for seventy-​five cents (plus tax). Wow.
I moved onto other sections of the store, but did not really find anything I needed or wanted. I would had liked to find a cool jacket or sweater, but there really was not anything my size or appealed to my taste. I was also hoping to find an old-​school camera or typewriter, but to no avail. It is okay, though. You can not expect to find what you want at a thrift store. You have to take the same approach as pirates in search of treasure. It takes time and effort to find something that interests you. You have to go through a lot of stuff to discover the hidden treasures that lie beneath all the rummage!
Overall, a fantastic and superb thrift shop. I definitely can not forget to mention the kind and friendly service! Thanks, Frances and Phyllis (two of the employees/​friends of mine), as well as the kind elderly women running the shop! I will surely be back to add to my book collection, or perhaps look to sport a vintage, stylish jacket or sweater.
Just a note:
Be sure to come in and check out their 50% sale! They have several Christmas ornaments and decorations, so if you are looking to decorate your home or Christmas tree on a budget, be sure to check this place out!

I would have liked to check out the store. i also like to support our community, and i know, they need it. i was met at the door, and told i could not come in, with a stroller. i am a Day Care provider, in the neighborhood, and am not a thief, i was very offended. i told them i had to use it, because i had 3 children. they told me no, so i didnt get to see what the store was like. The children and i were just looking for Halloween things, not looking to rob the store.

Really nice place. The atmosphere was nice, the prices were a great deal, and the people were really friendly.
The selection wasn’t so great since the place was small and the sizes ran kind of large, but my overall experience was still good.

A wonderful shop, operated by the most friendly folks, for an amazing cause.
Find all sorts of great stuff here! I always find something! And the prices are garage sale so it is great for any budget!
A fixture in the community, YSI has been servicing us for decades and we are so lucky to have them!
Thank you YSI!

The great thing about this place is everything you buy benefits Alum Rock Park’s Youth Institute. The ladies who run the store are very welcoming. It’s small, but every time I come here I find at least a couple of goodies to take home.

I love going to this place. They always have interesting things hidden within the store. It’s always well kept and everything is fairly priced. The people that work their area always super nice and friendly. I don’t think there has been one time I have ever been disappointed once I walked out of here.
It is a thrift store so don’t get it twisted. You will have to do some lurking around to find some goods but I am 95% sure you will always find something that you will love & at a great price!

This place is great.
There are lots of hidden gems in this store! You can find everything from home furnishing to clothes to books! Everything here is quite cheap. And all proceeds go to the Youth Science Institute!