Our Mission:

To reduce the prevalence of homelessness among women, children, families, and individuals through creative strategies and community partnerships that result in lasting self-sufficiency.

What We Do:

Community Threads is a one-of-a-kind thrift store. We strive daily to provide the highest-quality clothing, furniture, housewares, books, games, and just about anything else you could think of at the lowest possible price. You can find great quality brands in our store but you won’t pay more for them! We are also a registered 501 (c)3 non-profit which means all net profits made from the sales at our thrift store provide Hope, Opportunity and Support that empowers women, children, families, and individuals who are experiencing homelessness as they journey to self -sufficiency.

Our History:

Community Threads began as a response to the needs of people in our community. We started off in 2011 in a modest store in Buffalo Grove and have grown into our new 22,000 sq. ft. location in Arlington Heights. In 2017, we partnered with Home of the Sparrow and Sparrow’s Nest Thrift stores to aid in supporting their mission: Homeless women and children. Our partnership has allowed Community Threads to not also impact the lives of numerous women and children, but also help other agencies when they have a critical need! Our belief is that by bringing two long-standing, amazing non-profits together, we can make a bigger impact on this imperative and worthy cause for the thousands of people affected by homelessness. With the support of our donors and volunteers, Community Threads is able to accomplish its’ mission.

If you would like to make a monetary donation that directly supports these women and children click the button below:

Home of the Sparrow

Home of the Sparrow not only provides Transitional Shelter, but also Affordable Housing and Rapid Re-Housing combined with Supportive Services that address the core issues of homelessness. Home of the Sparrow serves single women, pregnant women and women with children. Approximately 73 percent of the women we serve have experienced domestic violence at some point on their journey. Other reasons for homelessness include unforeseen housing or financial crisis, a death in the family, or a medical emergency. The weak economy and rising cost of living contribute to unstable housing situations.

Currently, Home of the Sparrow operates:

• A Transitional shelter that can hold over 40 individuals per night

• 25 Affordable Housing Units located across Northern Illinois

• 5 Subsidized Apartments geared for very low income individuals who are not ready for permanent housing

• Case Managers work with at risk individuals or those who are experiencing homelessness to connect them with community resources and referrals.

• A Rapid Re-Housing program that assists people who are homeless to return to permanent housing quickly.Home of the Sparrow offers programs and services that are trauma informed and modeled on evidence-based interventions and supports.

Home of the Sparrow programs are designed to strengthen and empower women to:

• Obtain permanent housing

• Develop life skills suited to each woman’s needs

• Secure and maintain employment that pays a livable wage

• Develop a continuing education plan, setting realistic and achievable goals

• Evaluate their financial status, learning how, and why it is important to, maintain a budget

• Identify issues that impede self-sufficiency and secure appropriate assistance through a variety of resources

• Learn and apply healthy parenting skills to enhance the lives of their children

Did you know that resale stores like us make a HUGE impact on the Cycle of Waste? Here’s how:

Unwanted items are given another chance. The flow of textiles into the landfills is slowed. The amount of textiles going into the landfills is reduced

From 8 stores (Community Threads & Sparrow's Nest Thrift Stores), we give our textile recyclers approximately 980,000 lbs. annually (490 tons). Partnering with recycling companies allows unwanted clothing to be re-purposed into rags, yarn, cheap blankets available for natural Disasters, zippers and buttons can be reused.

Wearable clothing is sent to Central America /Mexico and Africa where there is a great need and the majority of unwanted/damaged clothing is sent to India where it is re-purposed.