Circle of Friends Thrift Store

Dignity for the Underserved -- a Unique Country Thrift Store

The mission of the Circle of Friends Thrift Store is to provide underserved communities with access to household & lifestyle items at low-cost or for free. The store strives to find homes for all the donated items it receives, keeping as much as possible out of the landfill and putting it into the hands of those in need.

The store was founded over 10 years ago by two disadvantaged single moms in the small rural community of Winthrop in South Central MN. The moms were leaders in the local Girl Scout troop. Because the girls in the troop were disadvantaged and lacked funds to participate in troop activities, the moms would pay out of their own pockets for the girls’ expenses.

Store Manager and founder Cindra Bielefeldt, a victim of domestic abuse who has been homeless herself, says, “When I think of Circle of Friends, I think it’s about helping people so that they have some kind of dignity in their life. We help people achieve economic independence by giving things free or at very low cost to them so that they have the ability to work and be employed. The county may tell you to go down to apply for jobs, but if you don’t have decent clothes to go to apply for a job, how much dignity is there in that? The food shelf can give them food, but if they have nothing to cook it in, there’s no dignity in that. Everyone should have dignity.”

All profits from store sales go to cover store operating expenses. The store is a registered 501(c)(3) IRS nonprofit charity, and store donations are tax deductible.

Also, we need store volunteers!  Volunteers are always welcome. Just contact us to arrange.

Stop by and visit us soon -- it's a Picker's Paradise!

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS THRIFT STORE

802 W. 6th Street, Winthrop, MN 55396

NE Corner of Hwy 15 & 19

Between Drive-In and JB Lures

Store Phone: 612-309-2176

Email: friends_thrift@yahoo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/circle.thrift/timeline

S T O R E   H O U R S

Thursday            4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday                 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday          10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(Due to Covid restrictions, hours may vary)

All Donations Accepted….including furniture.