Dream Big, Do Good!

Have you ever dreamed of driving a BMW? Perhaps a Mercedes? Or an Infiniti? This might be your chance to drive off with your dream car AND help others in the process!

The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center conducts scheduled auctions for vehicles that have been donated by the community, and 100% of the proceeds help fund the Adult Rehabilitation Center programs.

This 2005 BMW 745 Li is in our next auto auction!

The next scheduled Auto Auction is Thursday, October 23. Inspection begins at 11:00 a.m. You can start cars from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. The auction starts at 1:00 p.m. A cash deposit of $200 – $500 is required for each winning bid.

The auction is located at 13815 N. Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613.

Donated vehicles include a wide variety for nearly all budgets including BMW, Mercedes Benz, Infiniti, Toyota, Ford, Isuzu, Mazda and many more! There are also a select number of boats and trailers up for grabs, and even one camper.

Picture yourself behind the wheel of this 1993 Mercedes Benz 300SL.

Click here for a full list of vehicles in this auction. 

There are auction tips posted here on The Salvation Army’s website.

Take your friends on Thursday, October 23 to pick up a great vehicle for a great cause. What will YOU find?

RSVP here on Facebook.

Tips For Cleaning Out Your Closet This Fall

Fall is in the air! Something about the change of seasons lends itself to a time of decluttering and reorganizing! If this is on your to-do list, let us give you some great tips to help you organize one of the most important spaces in your home – the closet.

Most of us wear only a fraction of what is in our closets. That means, some major cleaning could be happening in closets all over the Tampa Bay area.

So, get comfortable, clear a little time on the calendar, and get started! Here are our favorite ideas for cleaning your closet:

1. Take everything out piece by piece and place into one of three piles: Yes, No or Maybe.
2. Get rid of anything you have not worn in two years.
3. Look through your “maybes” carefully. If you are agonizing over getting rid of a piece because it costs you a lot of money, consider taking it to a consignment store.
4. If you have a favorite piece that has become too dated, consider updating or repurposing the item to make it more modern and trendy.
5. Invite a close friend over to sort through your “no” pile.
6. Donate all remaining clothing to a thrift store or community theater.
7. Repeat the steps for accessories and shoes.

The Salvation Army Family Stores are a great place to donate unwanted clothing items, as well as to restock your closet with great new pieces. More than 3,000 new items are added daily in each store, and Tampa stores have great designer and brand-name clothing pieces for fantastic prices. Plus, visit every Wednesday for 50% OFF all Clothing, Shoes, Belts, Purses, Ties, Linens and more.

To see new inventory, as well as to keep up to date with great sales and events, connect on Facebook.

Helping People in Our Own Backyard

We’ve seen their faces on the streets asking for help. What if there was a place they could go to get the help they so desperately want and need?

There is. And YOU can make a difference in their lives.

The Tampa Bay Adult Rehabilitation Center  (ARC) is part of a ministry serving those who have temporarily lost the ability to cope with life on their own due to a drug or alcohol addiction. They either seek help individually or are referred by their families, friends, courts or clergy. They come to The Salvation Army desiring help and willing to make a long-term commitment to changing their lives. They need assistance and someone to give them a chance.

Residents at the ARC are afforded the spiritual, social and emotional care that prepares them to re-enter society and return to gainful employment. Participants are provided with in-house residence in a clean and healthy living environment, work therapy, leisure activities, group and individual counseling, spiritual direction and resources to develop life skills. Many program participants reunite with family and lead productive lives.

Isn’t that what you would want if the roles were reversed? A chance? A little bit of solid ground to put your feet on?

Here’s how you can help:

In the Tampa Bay area, The Salvation Army Family Stores are instrumental in supporting the programs of the Adult Rehabilitation Center. Your donations are crucial to ensure the ongoing operations of the stores, and your purchases help to fund the ARC.

Donating has never been easier. Call 1-800-SA-TRUCK to schedule a FREE pick up or click here to schedule an appointment online.

Download our new Salvation Army app! You can schedule a time for a donation pick up, find a drop-off location, and get a receipt for your donation.

 

Shopping on eBay

Did you know there’s another way to shop at The Salvation Army in addition to visiting our Family Stores? Imagine the convenience of shopping for unique items from the comfort of your own home!

The Salvation Army Tampa Bay Family Stores have an eBay store that features some of our most one-of-a-kind items that get donated. From video games and equipment to vintage pieces and collectibles, you never know what you’ll find each week in our listings!

Right now, we are featuring items that are music to our ears! Among the items available for auction are a 2005 Franz Hoffmann, Mastro, Size 1/10 Violin, Made in Romania; a Bundy Resonite Selmer Black Clarinet with hard carry case and Blue Electric Guitar Signed By Jesse Lacey And Members Of The “Brand New Band.” 

Check out these FAQs specific to our eBay store:

• How long do auctions last? Each item is placed up for auction typically lasting 7 days, but could vary depending on the item.
• What if I really want the item, can I end the auction early with eBay’s “Buy It Now” feature? Unfortunately, we do not offer that feature. All items are available on a bidding process only.
• What about shipping? If I’m located in Tampa can I come pick it up? Yes! We do offer local pick-ups Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please contact us prior to make arrangements. Also, please make sure to read the item descriptions as some items will be listed as “Local Pick-Up Only.” For the other items, shipping is available and purchased in addition to the winning bid price. All shipments come with delivery confirmation. Currently, we do not ship internationally.

Check out our eBay page here. At the time of this post, there were several items for only $19.99! Have fun shopping and happy bidding! If you’re new to eBay, you can register for free.

 

Tips for Saving Money

There are lots of tips and tricks around to help you stay within your budget. One simple, yet very effective, one is not paying full retail price for items you use every day in your household. These include clothing, furniture, electronics, household items, accessories, even vehicles, and more.

But where do you go to find those kinds of bargains? Driving all over to save money isn’t worth it, right?

Good news! You can save on ALL of these things and more at the Salvation Army Tampa Family Stores! With more than 3,000 items added in every store every day (some stores add closer to 6,000 items per day), there is always something for everyone to save money on. And, you’ll always save money on tax, as The Salvation Army Family Stores are tax-free 365 days a year.

Make sure you visit any or all or our area locations for lots of variety in items, all priced to save you money. By liking our Facebook page, following us on Twitter, and signing up for our email updates, you’ll stay informed of all the latest, extra special sales and events that will help you save even more.

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Ways to have fun AND save money in Tampa Bay

By checking local events calendars, you can find lots of free events for great family entertainment. Here are a couple links to look at often.

http://events.tbo.com/tampa_fl/events/tampa+bay+free+events

http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/ – free events are listed among local activities.

By focusing your savings efforts in these kinds of areas, you can free up funds to help do things like save for retirement, pay off debt, and other needs.

 

For more information on how to save money, check out this helpful article.

Spotlight: Tampa Family Store

People come for miles around to shop in Tampa, as this area is well known for its retail opportunities. But what many people do not realize is that one of the best places to shop in Tampa may not be the most obvious – the Tampa Salvation Army Family Store!

Conveniently located right off I-275 on Nebraska Avenue, the Tampa Store is the flagship thrift store in the area. But this is not your ordinary second hand store. The Tampa Family Store showcases designer fashions for men, women & children; as well as furniture, electronics, home décor, computers, appliances, artwork, sporting goods and more – at significant savings.

Consignment and thrift store shopping is very trendy in this day and age, and there is no place offering more great deals and discounts than the Salvation Army. Every Wednesday, the weekly 50% OFF Family Day takes place, and it is not unusual for lines to form outside before the doors open! With so many high quality items at 50% OFF, including clothing, shoes, belts and purses, ties and linens, the word is out that THIS is the place to buy brand names at amazing prices. Hours are extended from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to accommodate the extra crowds and the extra savings!

The Tampa Family Store was also recently host to one of the most popular events of the year, the Bridal and Prom Dress Sale; when brand new gowns and dresses were sold for up to 75% OFF the original tagged prices.

These photos are representative of some of the amazing quality items. For more pictures of recent items, click here.

  

Tax-free all year long!

Last weekend was the annual tax-free holiday in Florida. Did you stock up? While it is a great option to get your back-to-school shopping done, it isn’t your only one. If you weren’t able to complete your back-to-school shopping, don’t sweat it! All five of our Salvation Army Tampa Family Stores are tax-free 365 days a year! 

Not only do we have terrific options for clothes for everyone in the family, we’ve also got school supplies like backpacks, notepads, pencils, pens and items your kids are sure to need this school year. You can usually find computers and sometimes laptops in our Family Stores, too! You can easily mark items off of your list with a quick trip to one of our area stores.

For some tips for back-to-school shopping for kids and examples of what you can find at one of our stores, check out this video of national coverage on the TV show Daytime:

Did you also know that when you shop at your Salvation Army Tampa Family Stores you are supporting the local community as well? It’s true. By shopping here, you support the Adult Rehabilitation Center program in Tampa, as 100% of proceeds go to support these efforts.

It’s a win-win….during back-to-school and all throughout the year.

Do Good, Drive a New Car!

Make plans to attend our next Auto Auction on Thursday, June 12! It won’t break the bank and you’ll be helping others in the Tampa Bay community who need it. We have some incredible bargains on used cars, trucks, even a boat, a scooter and more! 

The vehicles include a variety of brands: Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Volvo, Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, Infiniti, Chrysler, Buick, Toyota and more. Visit our website for a complete list of vehicles in the auction.  Or, view our album of pictures on Facebook. You can also check out the vehicles on Pinterest here.

Buying a vehicle from The Salvation Army is easy, but did you also know it’s a meaningful way to give back to your local community – 100% of the proceeds go toward funding our Adult Rehabilitation Center program in Tampa.

If you are interested in purchasing a vehicle, here are the basics:

• Inspection begins at 11:00 a.m.
• Start cars from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
• Auction starts at 1:00 p.m.
• Please bring $200 – $500 cash deposit, which is required for each winning bid. Check the list of vehicles for the required deposit based on sales price.
• Auction is held at 13815 Salvation Army Lane, Tampa, Florida 33613 beside the Tampa Salvation Army Family Store.

Tell your friends and come out on Thursday, June 12 to pick up a great vehicle for a great cause. We’ll see you there!

Earth Day Every Day!

Earth Day is April 22, 2014. Did you know this is the 44^th Earth Day celebration? That first event, held April 22, 1970, has been credited with launching the modern environmental movement. Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 192 countries. At The Salvation Army, recycling is a way of life! It’s not just something we do, it’s part of who we are!

The Tampa Family Stores rely on the generous donations of others to supply our inventory. Every day, thousands of items are processed at our donation centers, making its way into our five Tampa Bay area locations so that merchandise is available for you!

Making donations is simple and there are many ways to do it. You can visit any one of our drop-off locations, go online, call us at 1-800-SA-TRUCK, or use the mobile app to schedule a pickup. It couldn’t be any easier to recycle unwanted clothing, shoes, accessories, household items, electronics and more!

You help keep the planet green by recycling items through the stores and by shopping for used items instead of brand new merchandise. The popular trend of repurposing brings new life and even new identity to many household items and pieces of furniture.

And lastly, through the proceeds of the generous donations from the Tampa Bay community, we are able to recycle broken lives through our Adult Rehabilitation Center. 

For more information on the types of items we accept, store hours and locations and information on special events, please visit our website or LIKE us on Facebook.

Never miss a thing!

With all the options for communication that are available, it’s easy to lose track of things! When it comes to the Salvation Army Family Stores, there’s a simple one-stop option to ensure you never miss a beat with us!

Simply, join our email list. 

Yes, that’s it! In this day and age of super communication, our email updates will help you stay on top of everything that is happening at our five area stores. We get it. Sometimes you may miss a tweet or a Facebook post, so we’re capturing all the important info in our emails, so you know you’ll never miss a thing.

All you have to do is click here to sign up or visit our Facebook page and click on the Email Signup link to join our email list. Just complete the form, verify your email (we’ll send you a confirmation email) and you’re all set. Don’t worry, we’ll only send you about one email a month – but it will be chock full of all the latest information, so it’s one you’ll eagerly await arriving in your inbox!

Now, we still want to interact with you on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. So if you pin, post or tweet, do keep us on your list! But, we also want to make sure you’re in the loop on all the pertinent information you need to find great deals and help stretch your budget.

 

So sign up, let’s connect, and you’ll be in the know of all things Salvation Army Family Stores in Tampa Bay!