VOA Michigan Launches Thrift Showroom on Popular Livestream Shopping App, Whatnot

Photo courtesy of VOA Michigan

Nonprofit to expand its thrift enterprise to live sell clothing and accessories to create community while increasing revenue to help fund essential programs for veterans, seniors, and families.

 VOA Michigan (formerly Volunteers of America Michigan) recently announced the launch of its new MI Thrift by VOA Michigan showroom on Whatnot, a popular, fast-growing livestreaming e-commerce app founded in 2019. The new revenue-producing enterprise will sell a wide variety of clothing and accessories for adults and children, from never worn items with tags to preloved thrifted gems. Proceeds from all purchases will support the nonprofit’s essential programs and services for Michigan veterans, seniors, and families in need. Thrift and shopping enthusiasts nationally are invited to tune in and participate in MI Thrift by VOA Michigan’s three-hour live shows three times a week on its Whatnot channel, @voa_mithrift, to enjoy great deals while supporting a great cause and keeping items out of landfills. Every item sold live was first available for sale in one of VOA Michigan’s retail stores for at least six weeks before being offered online. Whatnot live sales will give these items a third chance to find a home while also providing an opportunity for people who may not be able to visit a VOA Michigan thrift store to shop and support the organization’s essential mission.

“This venture allows us to give donated items every opportunity to be purchased, and we are so excited to build upon our retail expertise successfully operating brick and mortar thrift stores by offering the same one-of-a-kind finds to a broader global community online,” said VOA Michigan President/CEO Aubrey Macfarlane. “Whatnot’s engaging marketplace app brings like-minded people together in real time just like the Home Shopping Network did decades ago. We can’t wait to build and serve a loyal shopper base who want to look good while doing good for the environment and those in need.”

MI Thrift by VOA Michigan will host its first Whatnot livestream shopping experience on Wednesday, July 1, at 6:30 p.m.

with starting auction bids of $1. Subsequent shows will run every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. The live shows will be hosted and moderated by longtime VOA Michigan thrift store team members, Carmen Nieves and Amanda Fleming from Lansing in a specially built showroom set. Designer and other clothing and accessories for men, women and youth will be featured on each show at huge discounts, and special deals and giveaways will also be offered. The showroom’s tagline is “Great Finds. Great Prices. Greatest Community Impact.” As with all Whatnot stores, buyers pay the USPS shipping costs.

“Thrift-lovers thrive on the thrill of the find and the hunt for the deal, from vintage clothing to designer labels and everything in between,” continued Macfarlane. “Now they can discover these types of treasured pieces at home on their smartphone. We could not be more excited to share our mission and these products with an even broader audience.”

For more information about VOA Michigan, go to www.voami.org.

About VOA Michigan

VOA Michigan, formerly known as Volunteers of America Michigan, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, specializes in providing critical services, shelter and food for veterans, affordable housing for aging seniors, and supportive services for struggling families, and operates seven Thrift Stores in Michigan. For 130 years, they have been empowering veterans, seniors, and families across the state of Michigan. Their work touches the mind, body, heart – and ultimately the spirit – of those they serve, integrating their deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. To learn more, visit www.voami.org.