A response to ‘Share the wealth, rent your clothes’

I read the column (“Share the wealth, rent your clothes,” Nov. 21) with interest since I had read about this type of business, but had never read a personal account of how it works. I was very surprised to read some negative comments about thrift stores in the column. Bailey Cichon wrote, “ Thrifting doesn’t actually reduce consumption and it takes away options for low-income shoppers.”

If by consumption she means the buying of new clothes, most of the clothes in thrift stores are not new and are bought instead of the person buying something new. Also, buying clothing at thrift stores extends the usefulness of the unwanted items by putting them in closets. Thrift stores are a benefit to low-income shoppers because items are much less expensive than new ones. I volunteer at Treasures Quality Resale Shoppe and am sure that people from all incomes shop there. Bargains are to be found daily there and at all of the thrift stores here in Cedar Rapids and probably in Iowa City too. Ms. Cichon needs to visit a thrift store to get a better idea of what they have and who shops there.

Martha Troxel

Cedar Rapids