Helpers Homes Holiday Bazaar

We have been going to the Helpers Home for over 20 years. We first saw a story on TV about the beautiful handmade Christmas ornaments at the shop. This is a «thrift store» only in the most basic sense. The Helpers Home Bazaar is run to raise money for the Helpers Home, a residential facility for developmentally disabled adults. Joy Bianchi lovingly runs the store and manages to get donations from the cream of San Francisco society and beyond. Everything from vintage costume jewelry to haute couture can be found hear. Now back to the ornaments. They are mice. Very tiny mice all dressed in antique laces and fabrics to be historical characters, movies actors, or wonderfully imagined characters. The store even has a collection of mouse couture-​mice designed and dressed by some of the biggest names in fashion today. I have to warn you, those little mice are not cheap, but they are all completely hand made, hand stitched and one of a kind pieces of art whose purchase supports a wonderful woman and and a wonderful charity. Don’t miss this place.

Great place for QUALITY, lightly used vintage and desgner clothes and accessories — some of the items still have price tags on them. When you go there, you might be lucky enough to meet Joy, the director. You can’t miss her, a doyenne of style in her huge Chanel glasses. My friend Iris and I have spent many hours with Joy just trying on all the different outfits. I have found many beautiful coats and dresses from the 20s to 60s there. If you love vintage hats, you will find loads of them here. All proceeds go to help the mentally challenged find permanent housing. What more could you ask for — guilt free shopping!

Got tourists coming to town who are in need of souvenirs?
This is a great place to buy stuff. You can buy a cool license plate or street sign with your name on it! You can get calendars and post cards with city sights! They are so awesome, they will search for a 1983 nickel amongst their change.
The staff is nice, patient and helpful!