Plan would require foster children to shop for clothing in thrift stores

[PiKA2001]

How could they enforce this? Hand out vouchers instead of cash? The only benefit I see from this is that kids could get more clothes for the money.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

How could they enforce this? Hand out vouchers instead of cash? The only benefit I see from this is that kids could get more clothes for the money.

Probably in a similar fashion that states enforce the type of food (and overall purchases) that AFDC is used for.

I'm not a huge proponent of such mandates but I completely understand the purpose behind such mandates. As far as I'm concerned, this serves two purposes: (1) these kids can get more clothes for less and lets the money stretch; and (2) people (where's this money coming from?) don't feel as though they are funding these kids buying clothes that their own kids can't even afford. For instance, I wouldn't be a fan of kids getting vouchers to buy name brand clothes from department stores when non-foster families are struggling and many of them have a choice of where to buy clothes, but can't afford exactly what they want from a more expensive store.

On that note, if there is going to be a mandate, it should include all thrift stores including Salvation Army and Goodwill; consignment shops; Plato's Closet; products under $20 from such places as Cititrends; and products under $20 from TJMaxx and Marshalls. All of these stores exist in a few cities in Michigan. I like all of those stores myself except for stores like Cititrends (cringe). I don't like department stores because I'm not a huge fan of malls. I love boutiques but some of them are really overpriced. But, that's how good shopping that stretches the dollar works and these kids won't feel so horrible about their appearance.

It isn't about name brand and being trendy but about having nice clothes that kids actually want to wear. Thrift stores only have what has been given to them so some thrift stores have much older clothes that have been sitting there for a very long time. Even the most confident kid who is excelling at school can be sad that she or he can't find a good "teenager" outfit at the local thrift store. That's not a necessary thing to do to a kid because it's a social-psychological impact that parents can't always buffer.

[DrPhil]

Oh yeah, I forgot about stores like Target, KMart, Burlington Coat Factory, and Walmart (cringe).

Basically, any place where kids can get "bang for their buck." And if they want to use a $60 clothing allowance on more expensive items and not get as many outfits for the money, oh well. If you want to come home with a $60 pair of shoes and let that sustain you for the school year or however it works, yikes but congratulations. That is ultimately something for the foster parents and foster kids to work out.

I guess some things don't work too well as a mandate, afterall.

[33girl]

How old of children is this?

Does Plato's Closet count as a thrift store?

Re uniforms, from what I see nowadays, it's less the "issued" uniforms (i.e. all from the same company) than "wear a white polo shirt and khaki pants." In the case of the latter, you damn sure can tell who has the more expensive items. I'm guessing this started because parents thought old-fashioned uniforms were too expensive but it kind of backfired.

DrPhil - I just got a Cititrends very near me. Might I ask why it's cringeworthy?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Does Plato's Closet count as a thrift store?

Here's my rationale:

There are some Salvation Armies, Goodwills, and local thrift stores that have gently used and unworn clothes with the tag still on them.

I count Plato's Closet (the same company that owns Once Upon a Child) as a more contemporary thrift store geared toward particularly clothing styles (and some of the clothes are geared toward a particular age group). They are gently used and unworn name brand clothes that people sell to the store. The difference is that people are selling the clothes to Plato's Closet (or the owners are buying from somewhere) versus people donating the clothes to other thrift stores.

There is another store like Plato's Closet but its clothes are even more trendy and much more expensive. Still gently used and new name brand clothes that were sold to the store. As with a lot of the Plato's Closet clothes, you wouldn't notice they were used clothes.

Originally Posted by 33girl

DrPhil - I just got a Cititrends very near me. Might I ask why it's cringeworthy?

Just the opinion of my friends and me. There are a lot of stores like Cititrends. It is generally directed toward a particular demographic. That's also why the commercials in many cities are the way they are. LOL. Mostly cheaply made trendy clothes.

I compare it to Wet Seal and stores like that. There are like a dozen stores like Cititrends and Wet Seal in many cities.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Just the opinion of my friends and me. There are a lot of stores like Cititrends. It is generally directed toward a particular demographic. That's also why the commercials in many cities are the way they are. LOL. Mostly cheaply made trendy clothes.

I compare it to Wet Seal and stores like that.

I've never even heard of Cititrends. Are they catering to an "urban" clientele? The closest one to me is in Philly.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I've never even heard of Cititrends. Are they catering to an "urban" clientele? The closest one to me is in Philly.

LOL. Exactly.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Here's my rationale:

Oh yes. I'm agreeing it should be. I was asking the Senator, not you.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Oh yes. I'm agreeing it should be. I was asking the Senator, not you.

LOL. Ok.

I've noticed there are people who don't consider Plato's Closet a thrift store and there are thrift store fans who have never heard of Plato's Closet.