Spring is here, mostly. (This is Cape Town after all.) For most of us, bidding winter farewell means one thing: that drawer, cupboard, or spare room you’ve been pretending doesn’t exist finally has to be dealt with. Tackling the actual clean-out is only half the job though – you also need to figure out what to do with everything you don’t plan on keeping.
That’s where TEARS Thrift Shops come in. The unwanted clutter you donate to them could be someone else’s treasure and it could help save an animal’s life at the same time. Win, win.
Your spring clean, their lifeline
Every item you donate to a TEARS Thrift Shop does double duty. It clears space in your home, while the proceeds from the sales are directed straight toward funding the rescue, treatment and rehoming of dogs and cats in need. Clothes, books, kitchenware, furniture, appliances – if it’s still got life left in it, TEARS can turn it into funds for animals who need it most.
If you’re tackling a bigger clear-out – downsizing, moving house or finally sorting through a garage that’s been a “later” problem for years – TEARS offers a free collection service. Suddenly a full spring clean doesn’t automatically become multiple trips back and forth to deliver everything. Also, it’s probably not a good idea to strap a dining room table to your car roof.
Not your average charity shop find
Here’s something most people don’t expect: TEARS Thrift Shops aren’t just a place to offload your old stuff, they’re genuinely worth browsing. Alongside the typical bric-à-brac that you find at their other shops, the TEARS Bookshop in Valyland regularly stocks high-value collectibles. Think beautiful crockery, vintage cutlery sets, delicate tea sets and statement platters that wouldn’t look out of place in an antique store.
It’s part of what makes thrifting so satisfying. You never quite know what you’ll find and every purchase supports the same cause as your donated goods. Fair warning: you may find yourself bringing home as much as you dropped off post-spring-clean. The jury’s out on whether that’s actually such a bad thing. (They’re back. It’s not.)
Where to find them
You’ll find TEARS Thrift Shops at Sunny Acres (Sunnydale), Fish Hoek, and Retreat, plus the dedicated TEARS Bookshop in Valyland, Fish Hoek. Trading hours vary slightly by store, so it’s worth checking ahead – most are open Monday to Saturday, with shorter hours on Sundays and public holidays (Valyland is closed on both).
Ready for your spring clean?
Whether you’re finally clearing out the garage or just in the mood for a good thrifting sesh, TEARS Thrift Shops are worth the trip. Drop off your spring-clean pile or go treasure-hunting for someone else’s. Either way, you’re helping an animal in need. Like we said, win, win.
About TEARS Animal Rescue
TEARS (The Emma Animal Rescue Society) is a registered non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa, dedicated to the rescue, treating, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abandoned and abused animals.
Through medical assistance, humane education, rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming, TEARS works to end pet homelessness, neglect and abuse across the communities it serves, powered by individual and corporate support, and partnerships with fellow animal welfare organisations.
TEARS website: www.tears.org.za
TEARS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TEARSAnimalRescue/
TEARS Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/tearsanimalrescue/?hl=en.
