Nonprofit cuts ties with Savers

Published 10:02 am Friday, November 28, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota nonprofit is cutting ties with Savers thrift store after a state report alleged the company has deceived the public about how it uses proceeds from the donated items it collects and sells on behalf of charities.

True Friends — which operates Camp Courage, Camp Friendship and other camps for people with disabilities — announced Wednesday that was dropping Savers as a fundraising partner, the Star Tribune reported.

A compliance report released Monday by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson “revealed practices that are not aligned with our values,” said Ed Stracke, president and CEO of True Friends.

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Savers uses charities’ names to solicit clothing and household goods that it sells through its retail stores. The for-profit company operates 15 stores in Minnesota under the names Savers, Unique Thrift, and Value Thrift. Altogether it operates 330 thrift stores in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Minnesota charities that get paid for the donations Savers solicits include Vietnam Veterans of America and the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota.