Weekly Sales Information

Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

Your source for unique, gently-used treasures -- with all proceeds headed to the public school students of Ann Arbor.

Celebrating 19 years of service in 2012-13!

Our mission is to donate the proceeds from our resale shop to the Parent-Teacher Organizations organized and operated to support the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and other 501(c)3 organizations whose sole purposes include operating exclusively for the benefit of the Ann Arbor Public Schools in support of enrichment and extra-curricular programs for students.  The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

The PTO Thrift Shop relies solely on donations from the community.  

Your participation -- as a shopper, a donor, and a fundraiser for your school community -- is essential to our mission of providing much-needed financial support for student activities.  

Many thanks for your continued support!  

 

AAPS FUNDRAISING News 

JANUARY 2013 --

It's 2013!  Once again, we gathered with our AAPS Reps  -- volunteers who represented EVERY single Ann Arbor Public School -- and welcomed district Superintendent Patricia Green on January 29th as we distributed our end-of-year profits.  2012 was a great year of earnings and giving to our schools and we started out 2013 with a bang:  $50,020 was distributed on a chilly Tuesday night in our warehouse to AAPS PTOs, PTSOs, Parent Councils, teams, clubs and other other non-profit groups in support of Ann Arbor Public Schools' student enrichment!   Thanks to the community for your support and confidence as we continue to grow our support for our schools and students! 

SEPTEMBER 2012 --

We gathered with our AAPS Reps and Deputy Superintendent Alecia Flye on September 27th to distribute our fall profits.  Our September 2012 Payout marked the final profit distribution of this fiscal year.  We have given $150,780 to AAPS PTOs, PTSOs, Parent Councils, teams, clubs and other other non-profit groups in support of Ann Arbor Public Schools' student enrichment!   Thank you to all of our donors, shoppers, school volunteers and reps for helping to make this happen. 

Thanks to everyone who supported our Annual Labor Day sale on Monday, September 3rd 2012 -- it was a great day for us and for the Ann Arbor Public Schools!  

AUGUST 2012 -- 

We kick-off the 2012-13 school year this month with every Ann Arbor Public School represented in our membership group for the first time in recent memory.  Welcome and thank you for partnering with us in your fundraising efforts this year!

We distribute all of our profits through fundraising activities and offer fundraising opportunities on a first-come, first-served basis, as our budget allows.  Email us for more details:  a2ptothrift@gmail.com

We offer fundraising opportunities to member AAPS PTOs, teams, clubs and school-affiliated groups through the following Fundraising Activities.   

• Show Your Support poster promotions:  180 school groups will participate in this promotional fundraising activity over the school year with four different groups fundraising each week.  Contact us by email for more information.  a2ptothrift@gmail.com 

• Promos In Publications:  If you have a school- or group-based publication and can print/distribute our promotional artwork on the back cover then your group can earn funds from us.  This is how we help spread the word to shoppers and donors within the AAPS community.  Your group helps promote our shop when you print and/or distribute our shop promo.  Find out more about this and all of our fundraising opportunities.    a2ptothrift@gmail.com 

See our Fundraising Activities link or email us at a2ptothrift@gmail.com to see how you can raise funds for your extracurricular and student enrichment activities throughout the school year! 

 

EACH WEEK IN OUR SHOP LOBBY...

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT: Support AAPS PTO's, teams, groups, clubs & organizations by shopping with us.  

For every $5 you spend in our shop you can receive a token in support of one of the school groups hosting weekly displays about their student enrichment activities. 

Check out their posters in the front lobby whenever AAPS is in session this year and 'Cast Your Token' in support of the school group of your choice.  

We will again distribute $1000 each week of the 2012-13 Ann Arbor Public School's calendar and into the early weeks of summer break.  Funding is based on the percentage of the total tokens collected by each group each week so as each group collects tokens, each group earns funds -- everybody wins with SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

If your school group is interested in participating in SHOW YOUR SUPPORT fundraising, contact your School Rep or email us directly at a2ptothrift@gmail.com.

See current groups and SHOW YOUR SUPPORT fundraising results on our FUNDRAISING page.  SHOW YOUR SUPPORT fundraisers commenced the week of September 9th to 15th, for the 2012-13 school year for 45 scheduled weeks.

Visit us, shop, and Show Your Support for student enrichment every week.  All profits from shop sales go to AAPS and its students!

Support AAPS all year when you donate and shop with us!

 

MORE Shop News

• We won!  On November 2nd, 2012, our shop was named the Non-Profit DEAL OF THE YEAR by AnnArbor.com's Business Review along with the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation for our cooperative funding of Middle School late buses for AAPS students!  Thank you to all our supportive donors and shoppers for helping us earn this honor.

• We are very proud and excited to be named a non-profit finalist with the AAPS Educational Foundation in AnnArbor.com's Business Review's DEALS OF THE YEAR for 2012!  http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/corner-brewery-barracuda-networks-among-nominees-for-annarborcom-business-reviews-2012-deals-of-the/#.UGm37pjVfao.  Of course, we hope to take home the award on November 2nd, 2012 but are so proud to be simply to be considered by the Ann Arbor business community.  We are a proud local, independent non-profit business supporting Ann Arbor Public Schools and its students' enrichment for almost 20 years.  Thank you to those who nominated our organizations for this honor!

• We love expanding our AAPS Membership community!  We always welcome the addition of new AAPS PTOs and their School Reps to our Membership group and we'll start the new school year (2012-3) with every single AAPS school represented.  It's great news for our community!   This September, we welcome Lawton Elementary School and the Ann Arbor Preschool!

• The Stadium Bridge closure began on November 28th, 2011 and will be in effect while construction continues through November 14th, 2012.  Our shop is located at 2280 S. Industrial Hwy in Ann Arbor, on a major detour route as designated by the city.  Here is a City of Ann Arbor link with details on the bridge closure and construction plans.  It contains both driving and transit info which may help shoppers and donors map the best path to our door during the extensive construction period.  We are thankful for your continued patronage and support and apologize for any inconcenience this may cause.  Visit this City of Ann Arbor website to learn more.   http://www.annarborbridges.org/  

• A discount is offered to AAPS STAFF on the first Sunday of every month:  this is AAPS Appreciation Day at the shop!  We offer a 25% discount to customers with valid, current  AAPS Staff ID.  Must show ID to cashier at time of purchase to receive discount.  We support AAPS!

• It's official -- we won!  Thank you to annarbor.com and its readers for voting us "Best Thrift or Secondhand Shop" in their annual local "BEST OF" contest.  Thank you again for your support!

• We proudly supported Ann Arbor Rec & Ed scholarships to AAPS students for enrichment activities in 2011-12.  

• The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop warehouse was the unique site of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation 2011 fundraising campaign kick-off in early March, 2011.  A gift of $10,000 was given by the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop to the AAPSEF  in support of AAPS's educational goals for the coming year.   The event was a celebration of our public schools, bringing together a variety of supporters -- AAPSEF donors, AAPS Board of Educations members and administrators, city officials, and board members from both shop and foundation.  Entertainment was provided by Community High Schools' talented Jazz Ensemble and the event  -- from 6 to 7:30 pm -- was deliciously catered by Chartwells' Executive Chef Neil Murphy.

• Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation received a major gift of $100,000 to their "One Million Reasons" campaign from the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop in July, 2010.  The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop is proud to present this gift on behalf of our students, parents, supporters, volunteers and shoppers to ensure great educational opportunities as well as support for enrichment and extra-curricular programs.  www.aapsef.org

• The Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop has been recognized annually as a Waste Knot Partner by the Waste Knot Program, Washtenaw County Solid Waste Program.  We are thrilled to join this group of businesses, schools, and nonprofits dedicated to reducing waste and protecting the environment.
• We are a proud member of THINK LOCAL FIRST group of businesses.  Shop locally and make a difference in our community!  http://thinklocalfirst.net/

• 10% off Senior discount offered every day of the week, (60 years or over).  Remember to show your ID and ask your cashier for your Senior discount.

• 25% off Student discount on Saturdays. Must have valid student ID present.  This includes students at all levels of school so shop with us!

• A fresh batch of clothing is reduced to 50¢ every week.

• FREE FURNITURE PICK-UP in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and most of Saline and Dexter.  Call us to schedule!

Thanks!

Our thanks goes out to...

• The AAPS PTOs, clubs/organizations and Volunteer Representatives -- especially our dedicated community of past, current, and continuing AAPS PTO School Reps -- we thank you for your service towards the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop's efforts to support Ann Arbor Public Schools!  Together we are fulfilling our mission and strengthening the AAPS community.  
• Our community of donors for not only sending us your treasures -- which directly benefit the AAPS students -- but also promoting recycling and helping to reduce waste!
• ACME Mercantile gets our thanks for donating extra inventory to our shop in support of AAPS!   Ann Arbor shoppers can continue to visit them online at http://www.acmemercantile.com/
• Boxes and boxes of thanks to Chelsea Milling Company, "Jiffy Mix" for the recent donation of several large storage containers.  Thank you!
• A HUGE THANKS to SAM'S CLUB 5450 Carpenter Road,Ypsilanti,MI for donating much needed shopping carts to help our customers shop and keep our store running smoothly!  Shop the PTO Thrift Shop! Shop Sam's Club!  www.samsclub.com
• Art Van Furniture for supporting the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop!
• The experts at Arbor Vacuum on Carpenter (at Packard) for helping us choose the best vacuum cleaner for our busy shop!
• We gratefully acknowledge Coca-Cola's Coke Zero and Chartwells (AAPS Catering) for sponsoring our promotional sports banners in support of AAPS high school teams.  
• A special mention must go to Chartwells' (AAPS Catering) for their continuing -- and delicious -- support of our AAPS School Rep community at our Payout Meetings throughout the year.  Thank you, Chef Neil and the whole Chartwells' crew for feeding our crew!
• Thanks also go out to Skyline High School Robotics Club, Pilar's Tamale Cart, Kroger, Hiller's and Plum Markets for their help on our first-ever Warehouse Clothing Sale!

 

 Got FEEDBACK?  Contact our Community Relations Director:  a2ptothrift@gmail.com