The daily Astorian., May 12, 2016, Page 10, Image 20

10 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
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Spring is supposed to be about rebirth and
renewal. What better place to embrace that
notion than with your garage or attic? Renew
that space, and clean it out.
The problem is, you don’t realize how
much stuff you accumulate over the years.
We eagerly pull out boxes and bags from
storage and instantly feel a little overwhelmed.
Inevitably, we shove it all back to its darkened
recesses and wash our hands of the whole ef-
fort. “Maybe next year,” is our annual mantra.
Admitting we need help is supposedly
a sign of maturity, so when spring rears its
demanding head, take a different tack: Donate
locally.
The North Coast is brimming with charita-
ble organizations that need and want your stuff
and will happily accept it without complaint or
judgment.
PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX
Deja Vu Thrift Store in downtown Astoria sells clothes and other items.
Helping others start over
Deja Vu Thrift Store & Boutique in down-
town Astoria brims with high-end clothing,
shoes, handbags, jewelry and furniture.
Well-loved by the community, Deja Vu has
been voted Best Thrift Store in Coast Week-
end’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards for nine
years straight — as long as the contest has
been going on.
“We have a lot of regulars, locally and from
out of town,” says Willow Creel, Deja Vu’s
manager.
But the store is at the forefront of a much
more vital endeavor; all of its revenue directly
supports The Harbor, a community agency that
provides intervention, recovery and support to
survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault
and stalking.
Deja Vu consists of an upstairs retail section
that is open to the general public and a down-
stairs voucher room specifi cally designed to
assist domestic abuse survivors. “The down-
stairs has items like pots, pans and bedding,”
Creel says. “Things that help survivors get out
of a bad situation and start over.”
Creel says the store generally needs “ev-
erything,” but there are several items usually
in high demand and short supply. “We al-
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ways need nice furniture and clothing,” she
says. “Plus-size clothing is especially hard to
come by.”
While women’s and baby clothing is abun-
dant, casual men’s clothing and children’s cloth-
ing for ages 5 to 14 are scarcer and in demand.
Creel cautions that there are a few items
Deja Vu can’t accept. That includes mattresses,
infant car seats, and baby strollers, items that
are diffi cult to clean.
She adds that electronics such as computers
and televisions that aren’t fl at screen can be
taken to the dump for no charge.
While the store can always use items, Creel
is grateful for the constant support it receives
from the community.
She adds that nearly everyone who shops or
donates understands that they are doing their
part to create a safer environment for others in
need. “Our shoppers are very aware of what
we do here,” she says.
PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX
Men’s jeans are on display at Deja Vu.
Embracing potential
Coast Rehabilitation Services helps
individuals embrace their potential. A private
nonprofi t organization that supports more than
120 individuals with developmental disabilities
in Clatsop and Multnomah Counties in Oregon
and Pacifi c County in Washington, CRS
prepares people to celebrate themselves as
individuals, community members and citizens.
That includes the CRS Thrift Store on
Seventh Street in Astoria, which does double
duty as a retail center for the general pubic and
a training ground for 13 employees.
Darin Hocking, manager of the thrift
store, says the skills learned on the job by
his employees aid in getting them into the com-
munity. “They do all the work here,” he says.
“Everything from tagging and sorting items to
helping customers and working the register.”
Hocking says the Christmas season and
spring are generally the busiest for donations,