Assistance League of Orange

I got the Redneck Treatment.
How many times had I passed this thrift shop on my way to OPL and said, «I need to stop by there.» At minimum a hundred times over the past decade. Plus, I am a Minimalist who have generous adult children — therefore I have a lot of things to give away, especially small appliances. I like scarves and books, but otherwise I’m really a minimalist.
I went yesterday. Unbeknownst to me they close at 3 p.m., I arrived about 15 til 3. So there WAS that.
I was there about 10 seconds before I was rudely invited OUT by one of the gossiping biddies, wagging her arms outward toward the door.
AND ANOTHER BIDDY standing near the door holding it open to usher me out. Wow, I can’t imagine being treated more rude than that! There were about 15 people in there; granted it’s a small shop. She honed right at me, like a heat-​seeking bigot. Amazing. Thankfully that’s only one shop. And a FEW bigots. I’m happy to keep my money, etc. I certainly won’t lose any more sleep over it.

Wow, who knew racism still existed in the melting pot that is Orange County. I guess I’ve been naïve to think we’ve made some progress but I guess not.
Walked in on Saturday, Sept 20 at 11:08 am.
The blond lady at the counter just looks at me with no friendly face, just silence. I’m a 3^rd generation Asian woman, born and raised in Orange County. Not even 20 seconds later, 3 nice looking white people walk in and she greets them with a friendly «good morning!» Wow. Just wow.
I write the exact date and time because I hope the managers at this store will speak to the ladies working this shift. There were 2 other ladies working, on the young side.
I’ve supposed the assistance leagues all over for years and I felt very discriminated against. Shame on you ladies for being so racist and only being kind to people of your color.

The selection is a bit sparse, but it’s worth taking a look if you’re in the area because the prices are very reasonable and employees are all SUPER friendly! They have a lot of cool vintage tins and dishes too.

Since we live only a half mile South of the circle my wife and I try to walk downtown, avoid tripping on all the restaurant chairs and tables on the public sidewalk and check out the Assistance League.
Yes, they are small, but come in at the right time and you can find some great bargains. We have found that the donated clothes seem to be a higher quality than many second hand stores we go to. Go in on one of their half price tag sales and you could scrounge up a great buy. Bought a great button down shirt a couple of years ago for 5 bucks and a co worker told me it retailed for over a hundred dollars. Score!
We try to go in once a week, but that plan often falls through the cracks and we miss many deals. If you want to find the treasures you have to go in several times a week. Its not a department store and some good items go fast. They also have knick knacks, some toys, CD’s, books and fine china. We have seen large china sets going for only $ 100.
Hours are limited since it is all volunteer, but catch them at the right time and you can snag a great bargain. AND they have their various causes and charities they support. I haven’t bought clothes at a retail store in several years.
After the Assistance league its off to the library and then Starbucks.

I am addicted to checking out/​shopping at all the assistance league thrift shops in my area. Unlike most thrift shops, assistants leagues are run by sweet volunteer grandmas who keep the place spotless, clean, and organized. It’s like walking into your grandma’s house… But being able to buy all her goodies and take it home with you! They have a cheaply priced clothing section and a boutique section w/​higher end items (with higher prices). Items are clean and in good/​excellent condition. They don’t seem to put out anything soiled or disgusting, unlike many other thrift shops. Clothing can be a bit dated and for an older crowd but w/​enough patience you can find good pieces at a bargain. What makes this place unique is that they actually have a great shoe section, which is a first for the AL stores ive been to. When I went I saw a pair of Steve maddens combat boots for only $ 10 and other great winter boots that are perfect for juniors and young adults. Their glass case items and household knick knacks are pretty well stocked with really really nice items. Definitely worth checking out in my opinion. Overall a really great little AL that has alot of good items to offer at exceptional prices.

A small store where you can usually find something interesting or useful. This particular AL has a lot of older people’s donations. The clothes are reasonably priced and in decent shape. Service is very friendly and the building is gorgeous. The best part about this store are the enlarged photographs of the thirst shop in the 60s and 70s.

I am a member of the Assistance League of Orange and just want people to know this is a completely volunteer organization. None of us are retail professionals, but we all put our hearts and souls into making our thrift store a nice experience. Every member works at least one shift a month and we also participate in many more activities to raise money for the community. We are always doing our best to keep the thrift store clean and neat and we want our customer to come back over and over again. New merchandise is displayed daily and we always welcome donations. If you haven’t visited our store, please make a point to do so. I personally have found many great items and my friends are always telling me how great the store is. We thank the many patrons who recognize our cause and continue to shop on a regular basis. Hope to see you there soon!

My family and I had been shopping around for some old books. Everywhere we went they were very expensive. We weren’t concerned with what was inside the book but what the books look like, because we are using them to decorate. This place has it’s own room of used books, from very old to decently new. It was a gold mine for us. And at $ 1 a piece for hardcover books, we were amazed. They even gave us a great deal for buying so many, we got 26 books for $ 20! I can’t wait to put them to good use, I’m excited to read some of them as well!

I was impressed with this place; the hours are clearly posted, prices are fairly reasonable, and selection is decent. Last time I was there I found several yards of some neat vintage fabric, as well as a really neat silk eyeglass case. I think this is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and are up for a little digging in bins/​clothes racks.

The shirt i am currently wearing came from the assistance league. this place is very small and doesn’t have a whole lot of stuff but occasionally you will find something cool. This store also has very weird hours and seems to be open when ever they want.