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arc THRIFT STORES Since 1968, arc Thrift Stores has proudly done our part every day to help make our communities the best places to live and work. We are committed to increasing employment opportunities for people with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and many other intellectual ...
RETURNS We will accept returns within ten (10) days of purchase in unopened packages, with receipt and tags attached. No returns on mattresses, new product, or jewelry. You may return items at any arc Thrift Store location however, single items over $50 must be returned to the original store. Your merchandise credit will b...
THE BEST JOB YOU’LL EVER HAVE! Working for arc Thrift Stores is more than just a job. Whether you work as a cashier, a store manager, at the warehouse, in trucking or in customer service, you are part of the arc family. It’s fun, it’s meaningful, and it's rewarding...
BUCK-A-BOX FUNDRAISERHOME DECOR, BOOKS, SHOES, AND ACCESSORY ITEMS The "Buck-A-Box" fundraiser is the simplest of all our fundraising opportunities. You collect boxes (12Z" x 8" x 10") of gently used household items at your location (100 box minimum). arc Thrift St...
LIVING OUR MISSION We believe that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should have the opportunity to decide how they live, learn, work, and play. About twenty percent of our employees are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are proud...
BRIGHT FUTURES arc Ambassadors are people with intellectual and developmental disabilities employed as team members at arc Thrift Stores. They work in many different positions in the stores, including as donation attendants, clothing hangers, greeters, and cashiers. arc Ambassadors ser...
FUN & FRIENDSHIP We all agree that spending time with friends is one of the great joys in life! arc Ambassadors are employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities who work together AND participate in social events throughout the year that help forge friendships and create la...
CHANGING OUR WORLD Civitan International is a global organization impacting lives at the grass roots level through local service clubs. Civitan membership goes beyond making a difference in the lives of others; it provides opportunities for personal growth, leadership training, and orga...
REACHING FOR THE STARS The Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education (IN!) is a nonprofit founded in 2014 by educators, disability leaders, students, and families. The organization’s vision is simple: Students with intellectual disabilities will be welcomed on college campuses ...
THANK YOU FROM ARC! As a CEO, I want to thank you for visiting the arc Thrift Stores website. We hope this site will help you learn more about us and our mission. We are very grateful for your support, and I personally appreciate your generosity. Your patronage and support of our stores hel...
Arc Chapters Our goal is to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain self-respect, self-determination, independence, and the freedom to participate in their homes, communities, and workplaces. The Arc Chapters were established in the 1950s to advocate for individuals with intellectual an...
BOARD OF DIRECTORS arc Thrift Stores is fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who serve on our board of directors. Each member contributes valuable time, guidance, and expertise in areas ranging from real estate and legal matters to accounting practices,...
For some reason, thrifting and crafting around the holidays feels different than during the rest of the year. It’s so fun to dig through the holiday treasures and memories to hopefully find something that can be a part of your own holiday memories.I found this adorable guy at an ARC near my home and grabbed him up instantly. I knew I wanted to do something with him to have...
Christmas is the best time of year for an Arc craft project. The aisles are packed with goodies and colorful, potential, craft materials. Today I wanted to show you how to take these “potential” items and turn them into a beautiful holiday adornment.My door is lacking a cheerful Christmas wreath and I thought it would fun to make one using old wool sweaters and give an old...
A year ago my husband and I bought our country vacation home in Kansas, a dream we have had for years. In just a few short weeks we will be hosting the first large family Christmas gathering in the house. Wanting it to be very festive but on a budget I went to work.I love all things rustic and vintage. In order to save money I looked around the house for things that I have...
Arc is thrilled to introduce our brand new guest blogger, Lian. Lian enjoys being thrifty and crafty as a CSU college student. We look forward to many more ideas and great finds from her at arc Thrift Stores.It’s finally December, and do you know means? Well, at least for us college students it means finals and usually stress. There is one consistent way I have found to he...
PRODUCT SAFETY We produce an enormous selection of merchandise for you and make it a practice to examine every item for safety considerations before offering it for sale. However, due to the enormous amount of donations we process, we encourage you, especially when shopping for children'...
It’s Christmas crafting time! Which means an immediate trip to arc thrift stores. I bought a lot of supplies for a lot of different Christmas crafts. There are already so many holiday items out at the store!I spotted this interesting glass globe for only $3.49 and immediately thought of a snow globe. I’ve used jars from arc for globes in the past and wanted to try again wi...
Laughter danced through the offices at arc Thrift Stores as team members selected their top choices for the annual white elephant gift guide. Traditionally “White Elephant” gifts are items that are useless, but humorous. For the last 12 months, the marketing team at arc Thrift Stores has been collecting items that fit that bill.Following is a preview of the 2013 “Top Ten” ...
One of my cardinal rules when shopping at arc Thrift Stores is to take my time in the furniture department and not disregard something based on paint or wood condition at a surface level. If I see something with a great shape or great bones, I try to look past any blemishes because things can always be refinished or painted.I found some great pieces of furniture this summe...
Garret has worked for arc in the Green Mountain store for the last seven years. Garret works as a furniture assistant, but he also helps to run carts, stock shelves, and he takes and organizes donations. Garret is currently remodeling his home, so while he is sorting and organizing, he is also on the lookout for items that might fit well in his home. He recently bought a n...
When it was time to decorate for a friend’s baby shower, I knew that arc Thrift was the place to go. In the past I have used children’s books from arc to make cute pennant garlands to hang as decorations. For this celebration, I wanted to make more of these, as well as other wall decorations made from children’s books that I get from arc.There are tons and tons of kids’ bo...
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”– Ralph Waldo EmersonGraduating is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. That is the model the Ambassador graduates at arc Thrift Stores know well and embrace in their daily lives. Arc University Class of 2019 had 127 graduates earning eight different degrees o...
Lorraine works at the JCRS store with her friends, greeting customers as they come in and out of the stores. I met Lorraine a few weeks ago and as soon as she saw me walk into the store she was excited to chat again for the arc blog.Since we last talked, Lorraine started working with the Civitan volunteer group through arc. With this new project, Lorraine and other Ambassa...
April 22 is Earth Day. While the arc team LOVES this special day, the truth is that we celebrate our Earth EVERY day!!Arc Thrift stores receive many donations each day. A lot of these donations are sold in stores, but a certain amount of them do not sell after five weeks, and go to the warehouse to be recycled. One of arc’s main missions is to keep donations out of landfil...
Part of the mission of Civitan is to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs. At our recent meeting, the Civitan creed was introduced to our arc Ambassador Civitan Club and we learned that this creed is our guiding light as we reach out in service of others.All of the men and women that work ...
Guest Blog by Caroline FregeauAfter learning about Jim’s project with arc, I wanted to know more about what happens with these books after they get to Food Bank of the Rockies. I followed Jim, and his project partner Reagan Giffels, to the Food Bank of the Rockies.The Food Bank of the Rockies is one of the biggest centers providing food to people across Colorado. Every wee...
In order to cover up a pegboard wall and make it a bit prettier, I hit my favorite home décor store: arc Thrift. I looked through the selection of curtains and fabric, but ended up settling on some vintage sheets to help me make my floor-to-ceiling garland of fabric strips. I found some great prints of all sizes that were only a few dollars each. I bought five different pa...
Although winter has felt never-ending this year, the promise of spring is right around the corner! Spring is known for being a season both of new life and of events galore. From spring weddings to graduations to new jobs, formal wear makes all kinds of appearances in the spring season. Some of my favorite formal finds are from arc Thrift Stores, and I want to share with yo...
Jim White worked at Volunteers of America for over 30 years. But, when he decided to retire that didn’t mean that he was ready to stop helping others. He decided that his retirement would have a purpose. During his time working at Volunteers of America, Jim had always loved working with arc Thrift stores and with Food Bank of the Rockies. He decided to go out on his own an...
One of the special parts about being an arc Ambassador is not only the work, but the events as well. Arc hosts many different special events that are designed to give the Ambassadors a fun environment to hang out with their friends and coworkers. The annual Valentine’s Day dance, where ambassadors, their families, and their buddies come to celebrate cupid’s holiday, is one...
Hana Designs is a studio in Littleton, Colorado where people come for all reasons to get a wig personally cut and styled from Hana herself. Hana works with people suffering from chronic hair loss from chemotherapy cancer treatments, alopecia, trichotillomania, and for many other reasons.Hana began working in the hair care industry in 1978 and never imagined it would take h...
My very favorite time of year to thrift is Christmas time, and my very favorite place to thrift is arc. There are always tons of ornaments and decorations to find in boxes and in tiny hanging bags. I love these little treasure bags and have had lots of luck finding fun holiday treasures.My latest treasure bag find was these vintage Gurley candles. They are fun, figural, Ch...
Lisa is an arc Ambassador who has been with the company for about ten years. She works in the corporate office, organizing and sorting vouchers to be donated all around the state. Lisa organizes each large stack of vouchers into piles of 20 to make handing them out much more efficient. One of Lisa’s main responsibilities, and her favorite, is answering the phone and dealin...
Emily Karbach // December 3, 2018It’s here!!The Holiday season is finally upon us, and the only thing more stressful than trying to find the perfect gift for your “less than favorite” coworker at the company Christmas party is trying to find an even more perfect outfit. Every year, the holiday fashion game becomes more complex and it can be easy to feel lost amongst the st...
Emily Karbach || 10/28/18“Where’d you buy that?”This is both my favorite and least favorite question when someone comments on one of my outfits. I love it because I love to engage with people about fashion and, of course, I appreciate the compliment! The less fun part is that if someone loves one of my pieces enough to buy it, they may be out of luck. Why? Because my answe...
There are always tons of beautiful furniture pieces when you walk into an arc thrift store. If there are imperfections or cosmetic issues you might wonder whether or not you should buy a piece. I’m a big believer that as long as you have a great piece of furniture to start with, you can always paint/fix/tweak whatever is needed.Wood furniture can be the easiest to spruce u...
Many times, the items that I buy at Arc thrift stores are for organization. I have lots of little dishes and trinket boxes for storage that I have thrifted at Arc.But I do not have a ring holder for next to the sink when I am doing dishes. I started hunting for one recently and when I did not find one right away I decided I would make my own. I found a small saucer with a ...
Sangre De Cristo Volunteers for the Community raised $750 by participating in arc’s Buck a Bag fundraiser in 2017. They will use the funds to further their renovation of an old outdated golf course clubhouse into a community and nature center for our area. The building was built with environmentally responsible construction and forward-looking innovations. When completed, ...
With the beginning of a new year comes a chance to start fresh and get organized. I have several little areas of my home that are constantly cluttered and I want to finally get them under control. I hit a few Arc Thrift stores for some furniture and organization inspiration!I found this big bookcase at the first Arc I went to for only $9.99.At the same store I found these ...
In terms of decorations for holidays, Thanksgiving doesn’t always rank very highly on the list. However, a Thanksgiving centerpiece is always great in the middle of the dining table. I found some great options at arc thrift this week for turkey and fall-themed centerpieces.My favorite option for the table is this blue mason jar ($1.99 at arc) filled with fall-themed floral...
By Julie WhiteHalloween is not just for humans. Unfortunately for Darla, it is also for pets. I shopped for my very unwilling model at arc Thrift Stores and found some awesome costumes. There were tons of options at the store I went to so I had plenty to choose from.My favorite arc Thrift Stores costume find was the Broncos shirt, although it was definitely her least favor...
by Julie WhiteI’m so excited for fall that I’ve started noticing autumn-related things more and more. Recently I saw some leaf-shaped wooden bowls at an Arc Thrift Store and decided they’d be perfect for some crafting with friends. The smaller leaf bowls each cost $0.99 or $1.99 and the largest was only $3.99. I purchased some other wooden bowls and receptacles so that eve...
By Julie WhiteI’ve seen examples online of people using wire inside of empty frames in order to hang pictures, so when I found a piece of chicken wire in my driveway (thanks to the construction site next door) I decided I’d try making one of my own. I bought a framed painting at arc for only $2.99 and emptied it so I was left with just the frame.I wanted to leave the frame...
Just kidding I wasn’t “framed”, but I do buy all of my frames at arc Thrift Stores. arc Stores always have TONS of picture frames.Every store location that I’ve ever been in (and that’s a lot of them), has shelves upon shelves of frames. There are giant wall frames and teeny, tabletop photo frames. Some come with art inside them and others are empty.As a thrifter, I never ...
By Julie WhiteI find vintage tins at arc thrift stores all the time, and I buy them…all the time. They’re typically $.99 to $1.99 depending on the size and I use them to store everything from safety pins to spices. I have a lot of art supplies that I wanted to organize and figured that using these beautiful tins would be a great way to do it.I used one large tin, one that ...
One of my favorite things about shopping at arc thrift is the individuality of each item I buy. The art that I buy for my walls doesn’t look like anything in anyone else’s house, which means my home itself is truly unique. Recently, I wanted to try individualizing my purchases even further with hand-lettering.In the past, I’ve used vintage dictionary pages to make unique a...
by Julie WhiteI have wanted to try this project for a long time, but up until recently, I hadn’t found the perfect vintage suitcase. I wanted one that was perfectly flat on top and big enough to be a functional side table. The other day at an arc thrift store I found this guy for only $7.50 (half off from $14.99):He was a little bit banged up, but I liked the weathered loo...
By Julie WhiteI found a stool a while back at an arc thrift store and really liked the shape of it but hated the fake leather covering. It was only $4.99 so I bought it with the intent of trying to recover it in a better fabric. That was quite a while ago… I’ve been dragging my feet because I don’t have any experience with reupholstery and wasn’t sure if it was a project I...
By Julie WhiteAfter making a garland from vintage Little Golden Books recently, I was inspired to do some more crafting with books from ARC. I found a big children’s book anthology at my local store but unfortunately, some of the pages were drawn on or damaged by little hands. For that reason, I assume, ARC priced it at only 69 cents. The illustrations are great, and perfe...
By Julie WhiteNow that the holidays are over and my Christmas ornaments are packed up I’m at a loss with how to decorate my home. It is currently snowing outside and the thermometer reads 8 degrees so I definitely want to do something to brighten things up inside. It’s not springtime yet but I can pretend!I’ve seen some beautiful garlands, lately, and handmade bunting that...
By Julie WhiteFor some, the Christmas crafting season is over for the year. But for me, it lives on. This is mainly because of ARC’s 50% off Christmas décor sale. I’ve found such amazing things for so, so cheap! I’m not quite at hoarding levels yet, but there’s still potential in the next week. Lots of the items I’ve purchased in the last couple weeks I’ve put out for the ...
Arc Thrift Stores: The Best Place To Get All Your Holiday DécorOne of the most special things about the holidays – aside from presents, time with family, and sugar cookies, of course – is the festive decorations.If you love decking the halls of your home or office – and plan to put Martha Stewart to shame with your creativity and ability to entertain – look no further than...
Arc Thrift Stores: The Best Place To Get Your “Ugly Christmas Sweater”Never underestimate the charm and good cheer of a fabulous “Ugly Christmas Sweater.” These silly, sweet, and delightful sweaters – adorned with everything from baubles, beads, sparkles, Santas, elves, trees, angels, snowmen, and sometimes even blinking lights – have become a holiday tradition.Don’t be th...
By Julie WhiteLast year I found tons of beautiful vintage ornaments at ARC so I crafted some ornament wreaths for Christmas. I loved how they turned out:I am continuing to make them this year but wanted to expand my repertoire with a more modern design. I’ve seen some really neat minimalist wreaths lately and decided to try my hand. Starting with a large, wooden embroidery...
Halloween is all about candy, tricks, treats, and finding the BEST COSTUME EVER!!Good news!! Our stores are full of Halloween must-haves: makeup, masks, gowns, hats, capes, and more. We’ve got kids – little ones and even teens – covered!! And, if you’re looking to dress up your furry best friend, we’ve got lots of great ideas for them, too!All of our 24 arc stores are full...
People come to arc for all sorts of things. There isn’t ANYTHING – except for maybe plastic gutters, refrigerators, and scrap metal – that you can’t find at an arc store. And, all for a great price!!This is especially true of Halloween costumes!Fall is perhaps one of most favorite times of the year!! The crisp air, the leaves changing, a pot of soup on the stove, a cozy sw...
It’s that time of year again! We just LOVE Halloween at arc Thrift Stores!! It’s spooky, fun, a little silly, and super creative!A lot of you are probably planning your kids’ school Halloween party, or having a party at home for the neighbor ghosts and goblins. Maybe you’re having your friends over to celebrate with a more adult-themed version of trick or treat!!Well, at a...
Normally when I treasure hunt at ARC I search for items to upcycle or craft. However, there are also just things from ARC that I collect…or hoard, depending on your outlook.One of these categories is vintage globes:I am physically unable to walk past a vintage globe at ARC. My limit is the five above, due to space, but I can still gaze adoringly at them.ARC is a wonderful ...
By Julie WhiteSome of the items that I see consistently in ARC stores across Colorado (yes, I visit ARC stores wherever I go…) are vintage, metal trays. Lots of them are brightly colored with flowers or designs, while others are simple brass or silver-toned. I’ve used them as wall art before and as functional trays to hold items but never as functional, wall art. Until now...
By Julie WhiteIf you’ve never taken the time to hunt through the jewelry at ARC thrift, you’re missing out. There is always a huge selection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, everything you could possible wear. Last weekend I found this beauty:Isn’t it pretty? It was $4.99, but on Saturday I scored it for $2.50! I love Saturdays at ARC. It has a lot going on for one neckl...
Not so much the midnight oil, but the midnight candle. And not so much at midnight. This was my first attempt to make candles in awesome ARC container finds out of old candles from ARC. Two thrifted items in one craft: a thrifter’s dream.I frequently see candles made in beautiful vintage tea cups for sale, but they are often very pricey. There are always great tea cups and...
ARC is looking very spring-y these days. There are lots of great Easter items out and lots of fun sandals, too. This inspired me to try my hand with some actual live plants…again…hopefully keeping them alive this time. I wanted to use items from ARC, both planters and non-conventional items, to make some distinctive home décor.I’ve collected a lot of small containers over ...
Everybody’s got that wall space in their house that they just can’t figure out what to do with, right? I definitely do. It’s in a tiny bathroom and doesn’t always get much light so I struggle with what would work in there. I decided I needed something bright that would catch your eye even without a ton of light and I wanted something interesting and different than the othe...
Happy New Year! January is the time to go through all of last year’s stuff and get organized for 2016. This is no easy feat for most of us. I wanted to share the many ways that I use ARC items to organize my home. These receptacles are mainly vintage, because that’s what I love, but there are tons of modern options at ARC, too.I use a vintage pitcher from ARC to organize m...
I wanted to squeeze in one last project for myself this holiday season so I went with an easy one. I see tons of great jars all the time at ARC and decided to use some to create winter scenes. I found some interesting ones at my local ARC that I thought would work well.My next step was to round up some winter miniatures. I had a tiny ceramic deer from ARC and a toy car tha...
This is one of the easiest and cutest crafts that I’ve made all year. It’s a great end product for not much of a time commitment. That’s the best kind of craft, if you ask me.I had a bunch of vintage ornament boxes leftover after making an ornament wreath and some of them had great, retro designs. I decided to create some vintage Christmas shadow boxes for further decorati...
The holiday season equals crafting season in my book. There are so many fun Christmas and winter crafts to make. I decided that this year, the first one on my list was a vintage ornament wreath. I’ve seen some beautiful ones online and once ARC put all of their Christmas items out, I started hunting for ornament treasures. I knew I needed tons of ornaments for a large wrea...
One of my favorite things at a party is when there’s a photo booth. People seem to love wearing silly things and taking pictures of themselves, no matter what the occasion. At my recent Halloween party, we decided to make our own photo booth corner. It was Harry Potter themed so I hit ARC for supplies.We’ve got Harry himself:ARC actually had a brand new-in-package Harry Po...
If you haven’t been to ARC lately, you are missing out. Halloween time is the most fun in the ARC thrift stores. There are costumes galore, wigs, accessories; everything you could possibly need for an amazing Halloween. Recently I went in not for costume purposes but for props. Some friends and I are throwing a Halloween party, which means we need decorations. One of the t...
I moved into a new home last summer and am just now figuring out what to put on the walls (no judgment, please). ARC has been a major resource in this venture. Not only have I found pictures and frames, but I’ve also found craft items that I’ve used to make wall art. My most recent project was this Home Sweet Home cross stitch:I found the special cross stitch fabric in a b...
Please enjoy this wonderful poem, written by our wonderfully talented arc Ambassador, Lorraine Espinoza, entitled, “Happy Things.”Happy ThingsBeautiful dreams, I dream of unicorns in my head, just before I go to bed. These unicorns are bright, just want to say, “little one, have a good night” “little one, I want to keep you warm.” I want to make sure your blanket is not wo...
If you have been to our JCRS store, you will recognize our very talented arc ambassador, Lorraine Espinoza, who has brought beauty to our lives since she began working as a store greeter in 2007. Lorraine continues to spread beauty in our lives with her poetry and whether it be through her poems, or at work, this woman will warm your heart, and bring a smile to your face. ...
I have been looking for a way to add more storage in my bathroom, but in a unique way. Bathroom shelving options are often boring and I definitely didn’t want that. I also didn’t want open shelves that need frequent dusting. My solution was found at arc! I was trolling the aisles a couple months ago and found this adorable vintage suitcase. It’s so small and it’s made of s...
My most recent project sprung out of thriftiness. I love the look of those old, vintage roll down maps and prints, but I can’t afford the ones I’ve seen online and in antique stores.These were both listed on ebay for around $250, each! Wayyyy out of my price range.I found an old poster I had laying around and decided to head to arc to see what I could find to hang it up wi...
t is time to bring in the New Year. Why don’t we do so with a fun arc craft project? Whether you’re planning on having a big party or just staying in with a glass of champagne, you can’t go wrong with a New Year’s banner to bring in the festive spirit.The arc carries many craft supplies and is the perfect place to start your DIY mission. The first stop to make is the texti...
I wanted to find something new for the Thanksgiving table – something for the grandkids. So, I headed to arc Thrift Store in Loveland. First I found the “pilgrim doll.” What a perfect centerpiece for the kids!I had seen some tea light candle holders in a magazine with frosted edging and wanted to try to make some for the holidays. The amber glasses would be perfect for wha...
It is that season, you know, the season of pumpkins, travel, and good times with family and holiday guests. Why not bring a little of that seasonal fun into the house. I know that most people don’t have the budget to go out and buy new interior decorating items for each holiday, but if you take a visit to Arc you can update and create charm for less than $25. At least this...
My friends and I challenged each other to create new and different Halloween costumes for our families this year. We had to come up with three and not the usual “on the rack” costumes. I knew just where to go – Arc Thrift Stores. I have been going to Arc for years to put together Halloween costumes. Not only can you create something unusual, you can do it at a fraction of ...
It is October, which means it’s time to find Halloween costumes. There is no better place to find a creative, DIY, costume than the arc. So last Saturday I paid a visit to the arc for some Halloween inspiration and affordable goodies. The spooky spirit was in the air and the arc was crowded! Everywhere I turned, someone was searching for the perfect costume. There were rac...
All this was done under $20 thanks to arc Thrift!Here’s the truth: I’m in the stage of life when all of my friends are either getting engaged, getting married, or having a baby. I love to party plan as well as attend parties, so this time of life ain’t too shabby! However, party décor is expensive, my friends. Plus, I’m on Pinterest every day and just wonder about the inco...
I have an obsessive love of vintage pyrex. The beautiful designs and bright colors bring out hoarding tendencies within me that I’m not proud of. For these reasons, I do anything I can to make vintage pyrex useful within my home. If it’s useful then it’s not hoarding…right?After I saw this beauty at my local arc ($3.99!), I knew I wanted to do something “useful” with it. T...
Vintage dictionary art is all over the place lately. There are countless examples online at sites like Pinterest and Etsy, but it’s always seemed like something that would be simple to make versus having to buy. I’ve wanted to try my hand at it for a while now but I had to find the perfect vintage dictionary. That’s where arc comes in; I found a beautifully aged, large dic...
So the other day I went by arc Thrift and I bought a white mug for my latest (affordable) craft project! I wanted to make my own custom designed mug. These are great for gifts, special occasions or just for plain fun. Next, I hand drew on the white mug with a sharpie (preferably a sharpie paint marker), you can find these for cheap at any arts and crafts store. You can use...
Sometimes in the world of crafting, I bite off more than I can chew. This is a pattern even from when I was a kid. I’d start projects and then leave them lying around after being distracted by something else…as my parents like to remind me. But no more! After seeing this amazing vintage lamp at a nearby arc thrift store (for only $6.99!!!) I knew I wanted to rewire it and ...
I really like to shop. I especially like to shop for vintage items. I get more excited over vintage pyrex than most people do on their birthdays. I also enjoy crafting and bringing creativity into my life in any way that I can. Combining these interests means that by default, I LOVE ARC THRIFT STORES! They’re pretty much my favorite places on earth. If I’m not at home or a...
By Stephanie May of MayDae.comI’m so excited to be a guest blogger for the ARC this week! I absolutely love thrifting, and on most weekends, you can find me at the ARC with a coffee in hand, grabbing treasures as fast as I can. With Thanksgiving coming up, I’m thinking about Thanksgiving decorations just as much as I’m thinking about the food. A beautiful table makes any p...
Welcome Becky from the Denver Craft Ninjas as our first Guest Blogger! If you don’t know about the Denver Craft Ninjas, then you should! Read on to see how you can make super cool DIY Halloween Headbands from our local craft guru……..Don’t have time for a complete costume this year? Or can’t figure out what will pull together your delightfully frightening costume ideas?Get ...
Zombie lovers unite this weekend at the 8th Annual Denver Zombie Crawl! It’s the largest zombie crawl in the world, right here in Denver, and we can’t wait to be a part of the walking dead that will take over the 16th Street Mall beginning at 2:00 PM this Saturday, October 19th.Create a killer Zombie Costume in just a few easy steps:1. Choose your Zombie Type: Zombie Socce...
We have an unbelievable amount of Halloween costumes at all 22 arc Thrift Store Locations. Princess, Witch, Zombie, Super Hero…you name it, we’ve got it!...
Peace. Love. Happiness. Let your inner hippie fly free this Halloween with a groovy costume that doesn’t cost much to make AND it makes you happy!...
Welcome to our new blog! Join us all month long for a series of DIY tips and tricks to make this the scariest (and thriftiest) Halloween ever! We’ll share fun costume, craft and decor ideas that won’t break the bank....
“FORE!”On August 11th, arc Thrift Stores held it’s 4th annual “Golfing with a Purpose” Charity Tournament Fundraiser at the beautiful, scenic, and well-manicured Red Rocks Country Club in Morrison, Colorado. In attendance, were over 150 supporters of arc and its mission to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Among them were 120 golfers particip...
Each year, arc hosts their Feed Colorado event to benefit Volunteer of America’s Meals on Wheels and City Harvest food bank. The donation process starts at the arc call center, where our employees call those people who have registered to donate to arc as a reminder to when their scheduled pick up time is, as well as asking these giving individuals to set out some canned fo...
Kingahnah has been working at the arc Centennial store ever since the doors opened. He has been a valued part of the arc team doing whatever task is asked of him throughout a shift. He often works stocking shoes, running racks, and stocking shelves on the floor. Like many other Ambassadors, Kingahnah’s favorite part of the job is the customers that he gets to meet and help...
Lorraine is an arc Ambassador who has worked for the company for the last eleven years, greeting customers and doing her best to put a smile on every single face that walks into the store. Lorraine has made many friends through her time at arc, one of them being another Ambassador, Lisa. Her customers are still her favorite thing about her job.“It is all about taking care ...
Adam has worked at arc for about eight years now, working in the stores, floating around the office, and recording for arc radio commercials. Adam has loved working for arc all these years, but he keeps himself very busy on the days he’s not working. He loves watching TV, going for walks with friends, and working out in his “workout room.”He also spends a lot of his time w...
Gerta and Mark have years of merchandising experience between them. Over the years this dynamic duo have become experts in purchasing new Halloween product for our arc Halloween shops. Buying for 28 stores can be a big challenge but Gerta and Mark have it all wired. Each year they visit Orlando and New Orleans, host cities of the two largest Halloween shows in the country....
We are so happy to share this video with you all about this sweet young lady.3 3Pennsylvania’s Melissa Shang, 10, is asking the toy company American Girl to make a doll for girls like her, with disabilities. Melissa has a form of muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, and she credits the American Girl dolls with helping her to understand “what it’s like to be someone el...
Steve O’Dorisio, a Deputy District Attorney for the 17th Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield Counties) recently took a trip to arc Thrift to donate some clothes and furniture and left with these fantastic purchases (brand new Ecco shoes and tie) that he wore to trial! You never know what stylish treasures will be discovered at arc Thrift Stores...
“When Lloyd Lewis goes to work as president and CEO of arc Thrift Stores, he is inspired every day by his son, Kennedy, who was born in 2003 with Down Syndrome.” Read more of the great article written by Lynn Bronikowski of ColoradoBiz Magazine. We are proud to have such a visionary leader captaining the arc Thrift Stores ship!...
Elleana Tate began working for arc in 2011. She has worked at a number of our stores: the East Colfax location, the store on South Broadway, and now at the Littleton store. Elleana’s visual impairment hasn’t stopped her one bit. The bright lights of the Littleton store make it easy for her to do her job ragging out clothes in the children’s department. But, she’s also reli...
Mark has been with arc for over six years, and since that very first day, the Parker Landing store where he works has gleamed like a bright new penny! He loves to keep things neat and tidy, and nothing makes this 27-year-old happier than being useful. When he isn’t assisting in the B&B department, you will find him with a broom and dustpan, straightening out the aisles. Hi...
Homeless people often rely on the generosity of strangers and nonprofit organizations for assistance when they lack a roof over their heads and the basic necessities of life. Giving Care Bags to the homeless can supply these individuals with items that may be difficult to come by and provide a touch of kindness during a period of their life when they need it the most.At th...
Elnaz has been working for arc since 2015. The Centennial store’s sales floor is a well-managed place thanks to her efficient approach to running the clothing racks and her cheerful personality. Elnaz is very active in the Arc Ambassador programs, where she has made countless friends. She is also the secretary for the arc Ambassador Civitan International volunteer group, a...
Emily is an Ambassador currently working at the Green Mountain location in Lakewood. She recently moved to this new store from the Jewell location, where she worked for about two years. At arc Emily takes care of ragouts and putting items away that have been taken off the shelves.Emily loves to be a part of arc, not only for the mission and good work she does but also beca...
Ribbons have long been used as a way to raise public consciousness for a cause. This is true for those working for our community. Over the years, disability awareness has evolved from simply bringing knowledge to also include a focus on advocacy for inclusion and on making people aware of local and national resources and activities.At the last get-together, the arc Ambassa...
Elnaz works closely with fellow Ambassador, Kingahnah, at the Centennial arc store. She has also been working at arc since the store opened in 2015. Elnaz was recently interviewed by the local TV station in a special segment for Mothers’ Day.Elnaz works in the store stocking and organizing shelves, particularly in the kids’ section, but she will always help out wherever sh...
Sometimes this life is unpredictable and presents us with unexpected challenges. We believe that we are headed in one direction and, before we know it, something or, in the case of Judy and Jerry Horton someone arrives on the scene and our lives are changed forever. Judy and Jerry were reflecting on the onset of their “empty nest” years when Judy found out she was pregnant...
In grand style before an audience of cheering families and friends, 94 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities proudly accepted their college diplomas Wednesday evening from Arc University. Arc University, formed in 2012, is the vision of the management team at Arc Thrift Stores of Colorado. Through a $100,000.00 grant from The Daniel’s Fund, Arc devel...
Civitan International is a global organization impacting lives at the grassroots level through local service clubs, and we are proud to announce that several of our arc Ambassadors have been made members of this amazing organization.Members of Civitan share a Servant’s Heart and a desire to create positive change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities....
For the past seven years, Donna has worked in the production department racking shelves at the arc store in Arvada. She loves working in the back section of the store and hanging out with her lovely coworkers. One of Donna’s favorite parts of working at arc as an Ambassador is that she gets to take all of the Arc University classes and go on the excursions with her friends...
Bobby works at the Arc of Arvada store, stocking bric-brac and moving shelves around throughout the store. Bobby has worked at arc for the past eight years after working at the Green Mountain store. He made the move to the new store because it was a much easier commute.As Bobby stacks shelves and unloads all the intricate items, he loves to chat with customers and make new...
MISSION arc Thrift Stores’ mission is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We fund the Arc Chapters of Colorado and the Western Slope. ...
Santa Schedule section {display:flex;flex-flow:column nowrap;align-items:center;text-align:center;} Join us at the following stores from 10am-Noon for a merry holiday treat – Santa is coming! Santa will be available for free pictures, and will have a special surprise for each child. NOVEMBER 30th 2151 Main St. | Longmont DE...
For Kids – Make their Christmas perfect this year with a present from our gift guide made just for kids! Come in store to find something for any age that will make this one of the best holidays yet.• Clothing – Let their personality shine with an outfit they love.• Toys – Let’s play! From puzzles and games to video games and things to build, there is a toy for every kid!• ...
For Him – Know exactly what he wants? Or on the hunt for some inspiration? Explore our gift guide for guys and let us help you find a present he will love!• Video Games – Open up a whole new virtual world for the gamer in your life.• Sports Equipment – Ski? Golf? Tennis? Run? We’ve got it all!• Travel Books – The gift of a new adventure.• Clothing – From a cool t-shirt to ...
If she loves a great DIY project or kicking back for a relaxing night in, visit arc Thrift Stores to get the perfect gift for woman in your life.· DIY Book – Help her get her first project underway or tips for a seasoned professional with a book (or collection of books) focused on DIY.· Sparkling Sweater – Everyone loves a bit of extra sparkle in their life (a...
We have so much fun exploring our stores, looking for pieces to transform! As our first #arcCycle project (where we UPcycle pieces, get it?!), this decorative stool became a modern side table in just a few easy steps!We found this stool at our Thornton location for $14.99, but lucked out to be there on 50% off Saturday - so we brought this ornate stool home for $7.50! Step...
arc Thrift Stores Online Privacy Policy Effective Date: January 24, 2020 arc Thrift Stores respects your privacy and is committed to using responsible practices in the collection, maintenance, and use of your personal information. This privacy policy explains our online information practices and applies to your use of www.arcthrift.com (the “Website”) and any other ...
Let’s be honest, we ALL have a basement or a closet or a garage that is getting a little over-full of stuff. The clothes the kids have outgrown, the books you’ve read, the second blender you don’t need, the set of china from your great aunt that is still in the box.What should you do with all that STUFF?! Donate it, of course!Some people have the misconception that donatin...
header {display: none !important;} .gift-card {display: none !important;} section {display: none !important;} footer {display: none !important;} ITEMS WE CANNOT ACCEPT Above Ground Family Pool Aluminum Cans Baby ...
arc is an Essential Business designated by the State of Colorado. Providing critical infrastructure for advocacy programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Providing critical relief like food and PPE related materials. And we are preparing our sto...
Thank you for helping us Feed Colorado. Hunger isn’t always visible, but it’s affecting families, children, seniors, and veterans across Colorado every day. Nearly 745,000 Coloradans are experiencing food insecurity More than 172...
We'Re Here To Help For over 50 years, arc Thrift Stores has lived our mission: to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. But our support goes further, extending to all vulnerable and at-risk populations in the state. Our ...
Boulder2025 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80302 Cherry Creek3610 E. First Ave. Denver, CO 80206 Cherry Hills5910 S. University Blvd. Greenwood Village, CO 80121 City Center14575 E. Alameda Ave. Aurora, CO 80012 Cottonwood17821 Cottonwood Drive Parker, CO ...
The dream team at ARC got a makeover with our friends at Deseo Salon & BlowDry of Denver! At ARC Thrift Stores, we believe in the power of community. There's nothing we can't accomplish when local businesses and local people come together to do some good. That's exactly what the stylists at Deseo did when they invited our ambassadors to their salon chairs for complimentary...
Welcome guest blogger, Jo Booms, a passionate advocate working in the IDD community. By Jo Booms Episode 1: Add Respect, & Shazam, Transformation Jo Booms was born in Pueblo, Colorado, to a mother who worked in special education and a father who worked with teens with conduct disorders. Jo grew up in close contact with people with IDD and discovered a love for working w...
By Tiffany Sander, Ability Specilists Ability Specialists was founded in 1999 by a husband and wife team that saw a need in the disability service community that wasn’t being met. Since then, hundreds of adults have come through our doors learning how to live, work, and feel more independent. These individuals have learned how to build deeper connections with their commun...
Episode 2: Life Improvement – Close the Gap, Prevent the Conflict Jorgé’s* file noted that hitting was a problem. This wasn’t surprising as client files in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) system are quite often gold mines of information, some of it accurate, some of it not. If you’re lucky, you find insight into who the people with intellectual and d...
Guest blog by 15-year-old Aidan Lewis My name is Aidan Lewis. I have a brother with Down syndrome named Kennedy Lewis who is two years older than me. My first experience with him is when I was born. I have a picture where he is holding me with the most joy and care in his eyes. That's when I knew he was a true homie. We have been through literally everything together...
Here at Ability Specialists, we not only offer a day program and evening groups, but we also specialize in employment coaching. We work with and mentor several individuals at work in our community. Many members of our Ability Specialists family independently work full or part-time jobs that are outside of our normal day program. We offer specialized visits to these people ...
My name is Kristen Taylor. I was an intern this summer at arc Thrift Stores’ corporate office. I am from Atlanta, Georgia, and I am majoring in sociology and minoring in political science at the University of North Georgia. Growing up, I was also giving back to the community and wanting to pursue a career that would allow me to do so when I graduated college. I started to ...
By Jo Boom Episode 3: Life Improvement: A Cost/Benefit Analysis Welcome back! In Episode 2 of Tales from a Backyard Front, we looked at a situation in which there was a gap between who the IDD system thought a man with IDD was and who he really was as a person. This misunderstanding led to the IDD system being in conflict with the man, Jorgé, instead of helping him. The...
August 10, 2021 Our services have influenced many people over the years and in return, they have affected us! Our longstanding relationship with the Family Sports Center has been one of the most beneficial and mutual connections for years. Between the Avalanche Grill allowing us to host our dinner and awards on Dance Nights and the Sports Dome allowing us to use the socce...
Guest blog by Ability Specialists After much time away, our UC Health work crew is back on the job and making positive connections four days a week. From Tuesday to Friday every week, our crew works closely with David Snapp, the Food and Nutrition Services Manager. David has positively influenced several of our clients and has taught us a lot about the foodservice ...
Guest blog from our friend Jo Booms Episode 4: Agency Culture: The Continental Divide of I/DD Services The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) system was created to support people with I/DD so they can live happy, fulfilling lives. Yet some clients end up with fantastic lives while others live out their lives in miserable, system-created turmoil. What is t...
For most people, Halloween is about one thing: candy. For others it’s all about haunted houses and corn mazes. And, for others, it’s all about costumes. Arc Thrift Stores is Colorado’s Halloween headquarters and THE place for all things ghoulish, scary, fun, silly, and sweet. And while we take great pride in the fact that our aisles are overflowing with harvest and Hall...
Creepy Halloween finds from the past are my favorite! I feel as those I come by this passion naturally…would you believe my grandma’s favorite craft tool -- baby doll heads -- is finally on trend? Baby doll heads were a big part of my childhood. My grandmother would create her own dolls with doll heads she found at craft stores and thrift stores across Louisiana. As an ho...
Be it Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or International Accounting Day (that’s November 10th, by the way), arc Thrift Stores is call about celebrating and making the holidays special for family and friends. Wreaths are beautiful, simple, and...super expensive at your local retail store. But who wants a commercial wreath, anyway? The best wreaths are DIY and o...
Blog by guest blogger Lindsay Burke When you start to decorate your Thanksgiving table filled with the family china and crisply folded napkins, don't forget that table needs some depth! How do you get depth? A fun riser can provide new height and yummy textures which allows those eyes to travel all over that gorgeous setup. You don't need brand new either! Arc Thrift St...
Blog by: Tiffany Sanders Ability Specialists have a long-standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward o...
By Sheryl Renee Affordable Room Makeovers One of the greatest things about the holidays in the USA is that people of all ages, hues, and faiths, can find their “inner decorator.” Whether it be decorating our homes, offices, dining tables or Christmas trees, we get a chance to acknowledge that our shiny, upgraded surroundings mean something to us by adding our décor fla...
GUEST BLOG BY ALLIE KELLEY @heyallie.xo Hey! I’m Allie! I’m a thrift style blogger based in Madison, Wisconsin. I love the thrill of thrift and I also love knowing that it’s doing a little bit of good for the world, too. In 2019, I made it my mission to ONLY shop secondhand for the entire year (with a couple of exceptions). Mainly, I did not want to spend my money on ...
Guest Blog by Nicole Brady Hi there! Some of you may know me from anchoring and reporting for the morning news at Denver7, where I’ve worked for the past six years. But if you’re a fellow thrifter, you’ve probably seen me around the Centennial Arc Thrift Store, which has been my go-to location since moving back to Colorado in 2016. My love of thrift stores began in hig...
DIY Ceiling Gym! NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Looking for a fun, inexpensive way for someone with IDD or a child with a physical disability to work on motor skills? This versatile DIY ceiling gym takes up no floor space and features a hanging ball net into which soft sensory bal...
Blog by guest blogger Amber Mitchell @ambershauntel Hey y’all, my name is Amber! I am a designer based in Denver who loves unique one-of-a-kind clothing. As a designer who loves to upcycle, every time I walk into a thrift store I feel as though I am a painter walking into an art store. However, instead of looking for paints, brushes, and canvas to express my creativ...
Tales from a Backyard Front: Experiences & Insights from Colorado’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities System Blog by guest blogger Jo Booms As we've seen, the easiest way to work effectively with someone with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) is to become a reinforcer. Frequently in the IDD system, however, direct care workers aren't allowed to ...
Tales from a Backyard Front: Experiences & Insights from Colorado’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities System Blog by guest blogger Jo BoomsNote: This post relies on lessons learned in previous Tales from a Backyard Front blog posts. To read them, just go back to the main blog page and scroll up. One of the most powerful transformations one can make while workin...
arc Thrift Stores Terms of Use Effective Date: January 24, 2020 PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF USE (“TERMS OF USE”) CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE. USING THIS WEBSITE INDICATES THAT YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS OF USE. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS OF USE, DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE Website License and Access As a user of this Arc Thrift Stores Website (“Website”), y...
Donate Your Gift Cards Today! Your donation will help enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It's easy: ...
Creative Break! Destination Tickets NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms It was par for the course, but that was the problem. Agnes* (Name has been changed to protect confidentiality"), a woman with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), had gotten into the van and was scar...
DIY Lighted Toy Car for Fine Motor Skills NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Ever needed a fun way for a kid or injured adult to work on fine motor skills? This is something my Mom came up with to help a man with a physical and intellectual disability work on his fine motor skills! A...
DIY Figure-Ground Exercises NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Have you ever wondered how educators teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to read? It starts the way it starts with all kids – by kids learning how to sort visual information, letting some things t...
Episode 11: Both in the Community and Part of the Community NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Throughout Colorado, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are increasingly being served in their communities instead of by regional center institutions. The move to ...
Creative Break - DIY Festive Stamp Roller! NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Looking for a fun way to make Christmas cards and other ink stamping projects? Look no further! In this project, we use craft foam, a rolling pin, an unused pencil eraser, and ink pads to create stampings y...
Disability Q & A! NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Many myths accompany the disability community and the Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) community. So, let’s take a look at some of the most prevalent! Q: What is meant by the term “developmental disability”? A: The ...
NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Here’s a fun, creative summer project for kids. Critter fridge magnets are limited only by your imagination – you can make any critter under the sun! You will need: A pencil A small glass Sharpie pens or Elmer’s Glitter Glue Somet...
NOTE: Arc Thrift Stores is not responsible for the content of guest blogs that appear on the site. Guest Blog by Jo Booms Looking for a fun way for different generations of people to come together? Look no further! We all hear people say that young people don’t know what some objects popular in the past are, so why not make a game of it? You will need: Different ...
@media (max-width: 768px) { .event-list { width: 100% !important; } .location-text { font-size: 20px !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; display: block; } } Location: 3301 Coors Blvd NW, Suite #2 (Ladera Shopping Center) ...
@media (max-width: 768px) { .event-list { width: 100% !important; } .location-text { font-size: 20px !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; display: block; } } Location: 2001 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs ...
@media (max-width: 768px) { .event-list { width: 100% !important; } .location-text { font-size: 20px !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; display: block; } } Location: 1660 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Rio Rancho EVENTS ...
@media (max-width: 768px) { .event-list { width: 100% !important; } .location-text { font-size: 20px !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; display: block; } } Location: 5776 Stemmons Dr. at Bandera Road and Loop 410 (next to Cavender Toyota) ...
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