“My Dreams Have Come True”

“Mom, my dreams have all come true.” This is the statement my daughter Katlyn made after being a model for Arc’s Value Village Halloween Boo-tique (featured on Channel 12 and City Pages).  I still get emotional when I think about it, because I never thought I would hear those words from her.  When Katlyn was […]

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Repurposing Cashmere Sweaters into Touques

Growing up in a very small town in northern Canada, a majority of our clothes came from the Sears catalogue. If you wanted something other than Sears couture, you had to make it yourself or drive four hours to the closest city. Fortunately, I came from long line of extremely talented knitters, sewers, and crafters. […]

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Fitness Thrifting

It might lack the romance of hunting for vintage treasures but the fitness section of your local thrift store is not to be missed. Whether it’s because we underestimate our actual dedication to a new sport or the physical changes that often come with a new workout regime, secondhand fitness clothing tends to be in […]

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My journey from Gambia to Arc’s Value Village

My name is Fatou and I was born and raised in Gambia, West Africa and moved to America at the age of 18. I graduated from Patrick Henry High School, studied Mass Communications at the University of Minnesota and graduated from MCTC where I received an Associate Degree in Medical Office Assistance. I work in […]

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T-Short, Short Story

By Annette Hanley, Guest Blogger The t-shirt is a staple of the American wardrobe. Each tells a story of where we have been, where we are today and where we are going.  Millions are printed every day, each promoting a different cause, event or idea. But things change and another t-shirt is printed. I take […]

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DIY your denim!

We’ve all been there, sifting through our closets thinking “what in the world am I going to wear?!” You pick up the latest fashion magazines to browse the spring styles, it happens to be the denim issue. Before you know it, you’re contemplating going to the mall, thinking about all of the new styles and […]

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DIY: How to reupholster a chair in 5 minutes!

Are your dining room chairs stained, dirty and outdated? Do your chairs look like they were attacked by a 3 year old with Koolaid and finger paint? Well here is the perfect DIY solution that is both fast and easy. This 5-minute life hack will not only upgrade your dining experience, but will help make […]

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Autism: My Experience and How The Arc Helped

As a child, I never felt like I fit in anywhere. I struggled making friends, I had a difficult time expressing myself in a positive manner when faced with changes in my routine, or when facing new experiences. I struggled with anxiety and depression; skipped school and struggled to finish high school even though I […]

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Behind the Curtain – What’s it really like to run a thrift shop?

Kathie Olson, Arc’s Value Village Thrift & Donation Center Richfield. I never intended to manage a thrift store. That really wasn’t what I was shooting for. I mean, I always loved working in fine retail as a hobby for something fun to do when I needed some extra cash or was between “real” jobs, but […]

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Family Capsule Wardrobe

It’s that time again: Switching our capsules. To be honest, the boys didn’t need many new items, a couple more sweatshirts (replacing t-shirts) and another pair of warm athletic pants. They were done. The girls and mom on the other hand?  We had a few more holes to fill in.  FFTC partnered with Arc’s Value […]

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