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 17 years of service!

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!  

 

Events  

FEATURED 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 distribute $1000 each week of the full 2011-12 Ann Arbor Public School's calendar.  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.

 

This week's SHOW YOUR SUPPORT features the following AAPS groups:  

 

LAKEWOOD Elementary School -- PTO

WINES Elementary School -- Lunches With Love

SKYLINE High School -- Science Olympiad

PIONEER High School -- Men's Lacrosse

 

Visit us and shop each week.   Show Your Support to your favorite Ann Arbor Public School group!  Show your support for student enrichment every week when you shop with us.  All profits from shop sales go to AAPS and its students!

Best of luck to all participating AAPS groups!

PREVIOUS EVENTS...

STUFF-A-BAG SALE (September 25, 2011)

We hosted our first-ever "Stuff-a-Bag" Warehouse Clothing Sale on Sunday, September 25th, 2011 -- thank you for your participation in this event!

Our shoppers and the AAPS community came out in numbers we never expected to make our first-ever Warehouse Clothing Sale a big success for our shop and our schools!    

These positive results were not without some bumps along the way, however.  There was a long wait for the earliest of shoppers today.  For many, the wait was too long.  Community interest and support in the event was very high.   

We thank ALL of our shoppers for their incredible patience as we tried to quickly respond to the high demand and huge turnout at this event in our limited warehouse space.  Your understanding is appreciated and your feedback was heard.  We apologize for any inconvenience.   

Thanks also go out to Skyline High School's Robotics Club, Pilar's Tamale Cart, Kroger, Hiller's and Plum Markets -- your help was much appreciated!

It truly was a learning experience for all.  Lessons for this event are being processed so we can improve on this experience for our shoppers -- our goal is always to leave satisfied customers.  

Our shop definitely hopes to do this again -- and make it even better next time!

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The AAPS school year has begun!   We hope all students, staff, teachers and parents have a great year in 2011-12!

 

 

News

 

• The Stadium Bridge closure began on November 28th, 2011 and will be in effect while construction continues through November of 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 new discount is being offered by our shop to AAPS STAFF.  It will take effect on December 3rd, 2011.  The first Sunday of every month will be AAPS Appreciation Day at the shop!  We will 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 love expanding our AAPS Membership community!  As 2011 draws to a close, we welcome the addition of new AAPS PTOs and their School Reps to our Membership group.  Angell, Wines, Bach and Allen Elementary Schools will be benefitting from our fundraising opportunities in the 2011-2012 school year along with Roberto Clemente and A2 Tech High Schools.  We also welcomed new School Reps for Haisley Elementary, Burns Park Elementary, Logan Elementary, Ann Arbor Open, Slauson Middle, Tappan Middle, Huron High and Community High Schools. Each of these new volunteers are welcome additions to our AAPS Membership community.  

• We also welcome Ann Arbor's Rec & Ed -- we are proud to support their efforts to provide scholarships to AAPS students for enrichment activities.  

• To our entire volunteer community and membership group -- especially our dedicated community of past, current, and continuing AAPS PTO School Reps -- we thank you for your service on behalf of 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 2011 BLACK FRIDAY Sale was a success!  Thanks to all of our shoppers that day and to our many donors who help us keep our shop well-stocked with unique, quality items.  Most of all, we are grateful to the community for supporting AAPS through our efforts:  you shopped with us after celebrating Thanksgiving -- we give thanks for your support! 

• 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 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.

• 10% off Senior discount offered everyday 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. 

• 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!

Fundraising

• As the year draws to a close, we welcome more new AAPS PTOs and their School Reps to our membership group.  Allen, Angell, Bach and Wines Elementary Schools will be benefitting from our fundraising opportunities in the 2011-2012 school year along with A2 Tech and Roberto Clemente High Schools.  Welcome and thank you for volunteering on behalf of our shop's continuing efforts to support Ann Arbor Public Schools!

• Our fundraising calendar for the 2011-2012 school year is filling up fast!  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.   

1. Show Your Support poster promotions:  Over 140 school groups will participate in this promotional fundraising activity over the coming school year.  Bookings for the new 2011-2012 school year SYS calendar -- this year, we plan to offer 4 different groups a fundraising opportunity each week -- will commence on September 1st, 2011.  These will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. Promos In Publications:  If you have a school- or group-based publication and can print/distribute our promotional artwork, your group can earn funds from us.  It's how we advertise 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.  Email us:   a2ptothrift@gmail.com 

 

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

Thanks!

Our thanks go out to...

  The AAPS PTOs, clubs/organizations and Volunteer Representatives. Thanks for all your help!

• The entire community for not only donating your treasures which directly benefit the AAPS students, but also promoting recycling and helping to reduce waste!
• BOXES of thanks to Chelsea Milling Company, "Jiffy Mix" for the recent donation of several large storage containers.  Thanks!!
• 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 PTO Thrift Shop!
• The experts at Arbor Vacuum on Carpenter (at Packard) for helping us choose the best vacuum cleaner for our shop!
• We acknowledge Coca-Cola's Coke Zero and Chartwells (AAPS Catering) for sponsoring our promotional sports banners in support of AAPS high school teams.  See these banners flying at Huron, Pioneer, and Skyline High School sporting events in the gymnasiums and pools year-round and on the fields seasonally (fall and spring) promoting our shop!
• 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