If you know me, then you know I have a soft spot for animals. My husband and I have two furry family members at home, and honestly, our lives would be incomplete without them.

That’s why I want to help spread the word about SOCKS Thrift Store and PAWS Thrift Shop here on the Emerald Coast.

SOCKS was started back in 1993, and the acronym stands for “Save Our Cats and Kittens!” Likewise, PAWS is a thrift store that directly benefits the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society. This funds the rescue and care of abandoned or stray animals in the greater Panhandle area.

Even if you don’t have fur babies, you’ll love these thrift stores. There’s an excellent selection to choose from at both locations, and they’re great spots to donate any items you no longer need or use.

Shopping at our local resale shops is a small way that you can help the planet, too! These are ideal places to uncover all sorts of treasures that you can use as-is or upcycle into something new.

Personally, I love purchasing vintage dishes, baking things in them, and then giving them away. It feels so much more human than shipping a gift directly from Amazon or sticking cash in an envelope. I mean, who’s going to turn down a sheet cake in a pretty floral pan?!

The great news is that thrifting seems to be trendy with the younger generation now. I find it so encouraging that they’re buying complete outfits for just a few dollars. Super smart — especially when the money they’re spending impacts their local communities.

So, check out SOCKS and PAWS, and tell your teens about them, too! This is how we become a voice for the voiceless here on the Emerald Coast (and get smarter about shopping, gifting, and consuming generally).