Tucked inside United Parish and barely drawing attention to its serene exterior, Thrifty Threads bustles within. Filling three rooms with donations ranging from clothing to accessories to homeware, shoppers can browse through racks of cozy sweaters and tables showcasing kitchenware.

Located just outside of Coolidge Corner, Thrifty Threads was established in 1993 to help fund the church’s plans to begin their own garden. Since then, it has grown in both size and popularity, partly from an influx of young volunteers and shoppers, and partly from being discovered during COVID-19, when the shop was temporarily moved out onto the church’s driveway. The store is run by volunteers, welcoming shoppers from 12 to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Whether it’s by helping people sew buttons, selling affordable clothing or hand-picking items for individuals in need, the volunteers at Thrifty Threads turned a thrift store into the fabric between community and impact.

The majority of items for sale are priced below 10 dollars, and the money collected helps support the church. However, 60 percent of the donations do not make it to the store’s racks and are instead sorted by volunteers and sent to individuals in need.

Sarah Smith has been a volunteer at Thrifty Threads for about a year. She believes that the store fulfills the varying needs of the community.

“There are lots of people who need clothes here and elsewhere, and who can’t afford to buy clothes. And there are people who have things that they no longer need or want,” Smith said. “We are the space between.”

Thrifty Threads sends its donations forward to various organizations. They give to Solutions at Work, a nonprofit charity in Cambridge that provides for those who are impoverished or unhoused. They also work with the Eastern Service Workers Association in Dorchester, Mass., which supports workers paid unlivable wages. Some volunteers are also connected to people living in warmer climates who need clothing, and Thrifty Threads can directly help those people outside the country by sending them their donated clothing.

Co-coordinator Rachel Silverman started volunteering at Thrifty Threads 11 years ago, seeking a volunteer opportunity she could share with her children. Even when her children outgrew their interest in the store, Silverman continued spending her Saturdays there.

“Being at Thrifty Threads is my happiest day of the week. You just see sparks flying all the time. It is a place where people come to be together and to feel there’s hope and connectedness and warmth in the world,” Silverman said.

The volunteers organize fashion shows where anyone–including children, the elderly and those with limited mobility–can participate and show off their style. This past year, Thrifty Threads hosted a fall preview show with hors d’oeuvres and seltzer drinks to welcome their autumn arrivals. Participants model thrift finds from the store while musicians fill the evening with songs.

“You don’t have to be on Newbury Street. You can be right here in our thrift store, eating an appetizer and drinking a seltzer drink and enjoying looking at some beautiful clothes,” Silverman said.

Thrifty Threads also supports community members by offering a sewing clinic, where people can bring in their clothes and learn how to mend them. While helping people save their clothing, the clinic also prevents clothes from being thrown out. Second-time customer Helen Liu said she appreciates the store’s commitment to sustainability.

“I think it’s good that they’re showing that you don’t need to immediately throw away whatever is either out of style, or has a rip or missing a button or anything, because you can repurpose it. It’s a lead-by-example kind of thing, where it benefits the community by showing them how they can value their items more,” Liu said.

Instead of contributing to the fast-fashion industry, Thrifty Threads tries to sell or give away as much as it can to keep clothing outside of landfills while supporting other community initiatives and organizations.

“We even donate to the MSPCA and give to the animal shelters for lining their beds with stuff that is no longer appropriate for humans to use,” Silverman said.

From environmental sustainability to homelessness to animal care, Thrifty Threads provides a space for anyone interested in making a positive impact in the town–and beyond.

“Clothing,” Silverman said, “is just the currency we use for bringing us together.”