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Best Stores With A Cause In OC

Hanger Boutiques header
(credit: Hanger Boutiques)

Warmer spring weather means a new wardrobe and more daylight hours for do-it-yourself projects around the home. If money has to be spent, get the most bang for your buck by shopping at stores that, in addition to offering bargain prices, are using their proceeds to support philanthropic organizations around Orange County. Buy brand names for less, get a new sink or cabinets at a fraction of the cost of big home improvement stores, and know that the money you spent helped change the lives of those less fortunate. These stores are dedicated to helping people live better lives, which allows you to not only shop frugally, but with a clear conscience as well.

repeat boutique
(credit: Repeat Boutique)

Repeat Boutique
370 E. 17th St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 548–9927
www.repeatboutique.org

Buying fashionable designer clothes at a swanky shop doesn't always have to break the bank, and when you buy at Repeat Boutique, there is absolutely no buyer's remorse. Repeat Boutique offers affordable classy clothing while functioning as a revenue source for the New Directions for Women organization. Located in the peaceful and naturally beautiful Back Bay area of Newport Beach, New Directions helps women and their families beat addiction to drugs and alcohol through inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Their life-changing services include family counseling, child services, and social modeling, so patients can learn strategies for thriving after treatment.

Hanger Boutiques
(credit: Hanger Resale Boutique)

The Hanger Resale Boutique
28051 Greenfield Dr.
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 425–9900
www.thehangerboutiques.org

Looking for designer brand clothes, but want more bang for your buck? The Hanger Boutique is the place to shop. This thrift store carries top shelf clothing lines at bargain prices, and also offers special promotional deals. Check out Temptation Thursday on the last Thursday of every month for awesome deals, knowing that the money you spend is helping motivated, unemployed professionals prepare to rejoin the work force with the help of the Working Wardrobes charity. The Hanger Boutiques generate more than half of the capital needed to operate Working Wardrobes, whose services include a career development center, life skills preparation, and retail training. Ninety percent of all sales in the Hanger go directly toward Working Wardrobes programs and services, so put your mind at ease and shop with a clear conscience.

Related: OC Fashionista's Spring Fashion Tips for 2013

assistance league of orange
(credit: Assistance League Of Orange)

Now and Again Thrift Shop
20 Plaza Square
Orange, CA 92866
(714) 532–5800
www.alorange.org

Save a few dollars and support your local community by bargain hunting at the Now and Again Thrift Shop, whose proceeds support the Assistance League of Orange. The Assistance League operates several educational and health programs, and provides scholarships and grants to individuals and organizations throughout the city of Orange. Their Dental Health Center provides much needed, low-cost dental care to school-aged children, and the Ready Set Read program delivers books for preschool age children to Orange Children and Parents Together. If you're on the hunt for clothing, accessories, or general household knickknacks, visit the Now and Again Thrift Shop and support the Assistance League of Orange - an organization with a huge heart for kids and families.

ReStore
(credit: ReStore)

ReStore
1400 S. Village Way
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 434-6266
www.restoreoc.org

Before you spend a ton of money on your next do-it-yourself home improvement project, see if ReStore has what you need first. ReStore sells new and mildly used brand name home improvement materials such as paint, carpet, sinks, cabinets, and more, and the proceeds help defray building costs for the Habitat for Humanity charity. Habitat for Humanity builds affordable, energy-efficient homes for low-income families, and encourages environmental and fiscal responsibility through recycling and reusing materials whenever possible. In addition to building homes, Habitat for Humanity also helps rejuvenate neighborhoods through programs like Teen Gardeners, which encourages teens to utilize eco-friendly gardening practices as they grow and learn to cook their own food.

Charity's Closet
(credit: Charity's Closet)

Charity's Closet
134 N. Bradford Ave.
Placentia, CA 92870
(714) 993-4687
www.charityscloset.org

If you want to help the homeless and shop for affordable clothing and furniture, Charity's Closet in Placentia is the store for you. Proceeds from this thrift shop directly benefit the Homeless Intervention Shelter, which provides temporary housing and employment assistance for individuals and families who have found themselves without shelter. HIS utilizes a goal-oriented four-to-six-month program to help motivated workers obtain employment and save money for permanent housing. They also offer life skills training, individual and group counseling, and personal finance plans to help hard-working people and their families get back on their feet.

Related: Best Places For Facials In Orange County

David McDonald is a freelance writer covering all things Orange County. His work can be found on Examiner.com.

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