Step into the New with great finds at thrift store

Welcome back to another Spotlight Series with Sarah!
The series where the writer gets to know the city more personally, while the readers get to know the writer better in the process.
With the arrival of a new year, so comes the “new year, new me” people. The New Year’s resolutions, going to the gym more, eating healthier, and changing your lifestyle because a new year has just begun.
I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions, as I believe you can improve your life at any point in the year. I think there’s so much pressure for starting your year off right. You don’t have to start just because it’s January 1st. You can start January 2nd, or 3rd, next month, or whenever.
But if being a “new year, new me” person is what helps you improve your life, then I happily encourage you to make those lifestyle changes on January 1st. Try out the gym for the first time and get your body moving.
I know the gym can seem like a scary place. It can be intimidating when you aren’t sure what you should do or what you should wear. The best advice I can give is to just show up. Do and wear whatever you’re comfortable with. People may look at you, but they aren’t judging you. Everyone in the gym is there to improve themselves, just like you are.

STEP Thrift Store and Donation Center in Downtown Wayne. Photo by Sarah Shurge

I have been involved with fitness since high school, when I participated in marching band and sports. In college, I continued doing marching band and finally started using a gym for the first time.
Since then, my fitness journey has gone from being a runner (running a 5k a day), to lifting weights, to now just listening to my body, and making sure I do some type of exercise at least 3 – 5 days a week (whether it’s lifting weights, intense cardio, or simply walking).
Just as my fitness routine has changed, so has my preferred gym attire. I went from being one of those girls that liked working out in leggings and a crop top, to now I’m in my Adam Sandler era. The baggier the clothes the better.
Most of my workout tops are graphic T-shirts (of memes or quotes from movies) from the men’s section at Target. But with the start of a new year, I figured I could add a few more options to my workout wardrobe without breaking the bank.
So on Tuesday, December 31st, I stopped by STEP Thrift Store and Donation Center to see if there was anything available for cheap that I’d be comfortable working out in.
As soon as I walked in the door, there was clothing everywhere. Rows and rows of shirts, coats, dresses, and pants. Sitting on top of the racks of clothes were shoes: heels, tennis shoes, boots, and more.
As I mentioned, I prefer graphic T-shirts. The funnier, the better. And STEP Thrift Store didn’t disappoint. Some of the graphic T-shirts I saw were: Stars Hollow Gilmore Girls, Pikachu, Star Wars, Cheetos, The Mandalorian, bands, sports teams, and colleges/universities.
There were flannel shirts, an entire section of Christmas pajamas, and any type of hat that you can think of. Purses and backpacks were on the right side of the wall, while board games were on the left side.
There was jewelry, glasses, belts, pillows, blankets, and an entire army of stuffed animals. There were shelves of books, records, and DVDs. There were lamps, plates, coffee mugs, and wicker baskets.
Injured and need assistance with walking? There were crutches and a walker.
Wanting to get into golfing but it’s such an expensive hobby? There was a bin of golf clubs on the left wall.
There were electronics like: a toaster, air fryer, keyboards, and sewing machine. There was also furniture such as: a dresser, chairs, and bookshelves.
There were two fitting rooms so you could try on an item before purchase. I ended up finding two T-shirts and a pair of workout pants that I liked, and bought the three items for $10 total. I was truly amazed by the prices at STEP Thrift Store.
STEP Thrift Store and Donation Center has been in Wayne for at least 15 years. Services To Enhance Potential (STEP) is a non-profit organization which provides support and services to nearly 1,300 persons with disabilities and other mental health needs in Wayne County.
“We’re not just a thrift store, we do supported employment. The training program runs the thrift store, and we work with people with disabilities,” said Heather Udell, STEP Thrift store and Donation Center manager. About 70% of the staff at STEP Thrift Store have disabilities.
“A lot of times people are afraid to hire people like that. We are the same, we have the same work ethic. You just have to give them a chance. You’d be surprised with how well they work,” said Udell. Udell has been manager at STEP Thrift Store for a year.

STEP Thrift Store has a large selection of clothes for all ages. Photo by Sarah Shurge

“It’s really a great place to work for,” said Udell. “My favorite part is not only working with members but getting to know people in the community. There are a lot of regulars that are amazing. People walk into the store, so they’re local.”
Some of STEP Thrift Store’s most popular items are clothes, electrical items, and odd knick-knacks. “We offer low prices for the community, so not only our members can afford but the community can as well,” said Udell.
STEP Thrift Store has a color tag of the week that is 50% off Monday – Saturday. If you find an item with that specific color tag on Sunday, that item is 99 cents. The color changes every Monday. “Thrift stores are becoming so expensive. We like to keep everything affordable, so we run the sale,” said Udell. The color tag of the week was pink when I stopped by STEP Thrift Store the last week of December.
STEP Thrift Store also offers a VIP program that you can join to earn 5% off every time you shop. You just need to share your name, phone number, and email address, and you will receive coupons via email throughout the year for your birthday and flash sales. “It’s additional savings. Who doesn’t like saving extra? And it’s good to know what’s going on with sales,” said Udell.
STEP Thrift Store is a donation center, so if you’d like to donate any item, you can drop it off any day of the week. Simply bring your donations in at least 30 minutes before closing.
“We really appreciate it and everyone within the community appreciates it,” said Udell. I’m the type of person that tries to go through my clothing at least once a year and donate all the items I haven’t touched in months. After learning about STEP Thrift Store, I plan to go through my clothes again shortly and drop off a donation bag at STEP Thrift Store.
“Without donations we wouldn’t be able to train individuals and they wouldn’t be able to advance in the community,” said Udell. “It’s important that donations keep coming in to provide services to them.”
The non-profit organization, STEP, provides educational classes, culinary programs, community outings, and so much more to persons with disabilities and other mental health needs in Wayne County.
If you or anyone you know would like to get involved with or receive services from STEP, call the Western-Wayne Resource Center at (734)722-1000 or call the thrift store. “A lot of people are afraid to seek help. We just like to make everyone feel comfortable. We don’t want people to be afraid to reach out for help,” said Udell.
STEP Thrift Store and Donation Center is located at 35004 W Michigan Ave, and is open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday, and 12 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information about STEP Thrift Store and Donation Center, visit stepcentral.org or call (734)728-9777. You can find them on Facebook by searching “Services To Enhance Potential”.
Be sure to check out STEP Thrift Store and Donation Center, and be on the lookout for the next Spotlight Series with Sarah!