Whether you want to donate, shop or volunteer, this local nonprofit is more than a thrift store. Stocked with quality used goods, clothing and other merchandise, Clothes Less Traveled - lovingly referred to as CLT - is the place where customers can furnish and decorate their home, replace their appliances, electronics and tools, find toys for children and special items for their pets, as well as add to the family wardrobe. Clothes Less Traveled has a footprint in the community as deep as the relationships and partnerships they have formed since its inception.
The dilemma that resulted from an endless stream of donations - arriving regularly at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City - was addressed and solved when two community dynamos, Mary Ann Cox and Joan Velsmid, founded Clothes Less Traveled in 1997 - Peachtree City's first nonprofit thrift shop. From the onset, inventory continuously flooded the small storefront on Huddleston Road and sales flowed in equal measure. The organization has grown exponentially over the past twenty-three years and today, the thrift shop operates out of a 25,000 square foot space located at 459 Highway 74 South in Peachtree City.
Clothes Less Traveled has historically been a tremendous and stable resource for many in the community. The organization's outstanding reputation has much to do with the number of funds and merchandise they have been able to funnel back into the community by way of grants, scholarships and vouchers. Through the generosity of donors, the committed service of incredible volunteers, and the dedication of an amazing staff, CLT has disbursed over 7.1 million dollars to local 501c(3) nonprofits in need. While the list of recipients is too many to name, the alphabetical list begins with Armed Forces Mission and Arts Clayton and extends to Southern Conservation Trust and The Breast Cancer Survivors Network, with many other well-deserving organizations in between.
CLT grant dollars help feed hungry children, serve veterans, provide seniors with healthcare and transportation, rescue animals, sustain nature preserves, build homes for working families, provide treatment for cancer patients, shelter women and much more. This incredibly impactful thrift store awards financial scholarships for college as well. High school seniors have an opportunity to earn and apply for scholarships through volunteer service at the store.
CLT's mission "to provide a caring, well-run thrift shop where donors, volunteers, shoppers and employees feel welcome and appreciated and proceeds are reinvested back into the community" is evidenced daily. Their voucher program provides clothing, household goods, furniture and more to individuals and families that have fallen on hard times. Individuals may shop the thrift store for specified items with a voucher, just as they would with cash. Clothes Less Traveled staff members are always on hand to provide assistance.
Clothes Less Traveled staff and volunteers are committed to living out the organization's Christian values. While CLT was closed during the early months of the pandemic, the organization extended itself - like many other businesses and organizations during COVID-19 - to meet the needs of their local grantee partners. If an organization served clients who were in need of anything CLT had available for sale in the shop, the grantee partner was welcome to visit the shop and select items at no cost to the nonprofit. Shopping times were by appointment only to accommodate no more than two representatives from the nonprofit.
There's something more special about Clothes Less Traveled. The volunteers and staff are amazed at how often what someone needs arrives exactly when someone is looking for it. This dynamic has existed in the store for years. It's the place to find the perfect gown or wedding dress. Perhaps you are looking for sports equipment...score! Need some holiday sparkle? CLT's jewelry department has plenty of shine. If that's not enough, CLT has an extensive book selection that can keep the most discerning book lover happily distracted for hours.
Peggy Thomas is the organization's Board Chair and she believes Clothes Less Traveled is a place where people come to get their needs met and to be part of something bigger than themselves. "Today we benefit from everyone being home since March. People cleaned out their garages, closets, cabinets, you name it. The donations are amazing and we are working hard to sort through them all." Every item for sale in the shop has been sorted, priced and displayed in such a way that makes shopping easy and enjoyable. Donation drop off takes place at the back entrance of the store between 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. CLT sells and uses pretty much everything, but before loading your car, you would be wise to check their website to make sure they can accept your generous donations. Their website is also the place to schedule a pick up in the event you have large items to donate, or if you'd like to make a monetary donation. They are, after all, a nonprofit.
Clothes Less Traveled had to make adjustments since closing its doors for several months during the pandemic. Being closed has impacted their ability to grant funds in 2020. This is the first time the organization put its granting program on hold. They are looking forward to reviewing the ability to open grants in September 2021. In the meantime, if you're shopping and looking for something different to give this holiday season, CLT gift cards make great stocking stuffers!
