Together We Cope’s Nu2u is the ultimate recycler
Together We Cope is the ultimate recycler, breathing new life into everything from used wedding gowns to a vintage wringer washing machine.
Proving the old adage that one man’s refuse is another man’s treasure, shoppers at TWC’s Nu2u resale store in Tinley Park find innovative uses for the used items donated to the agency. The bridal gowns were either cleaned and worn at another wedding, or disassembled so lace and beads could be used by crafters. The vintage washing machine was purchased for use as an ice chest in someone’s basement bar.
“It’s always an adventure sorting through the bags of donated items,” said store manager Pat Hosman. “People hang on to the most interesting things for many years, then maybe clean house one day and fill a pickup truck with their assorted treasures. But sometimes brand new things come in, especially after Christmas when people bring in gifts they don’t need and we become a ‘re-gifting’ source.”
 Some of those “interesting things” to end up on Nu2u shelves include vintage clothing and handbags, period pieces of furniture, antique kitchen tools and collectible figurines. Sometimes, when a grandparent dies or is moved to a health facility, the family puts the home up for sale and contacts TWC to remove entire households of furniture and clothing. “For people who like to rummage through those kinds of things, Nu2u can be a treasure trove,” Hosman said. Used furniture and tableware are especially attractive to college students setting up apartments on campus, she added.
TWC even recycles donated items that it cannot use in its resale shop. Bags of items are regularly donated to other local charities which have different uses for the material, such as donation to missions in other countries.
 Nu2u is a major source of revenue for Together We Cope, with money generated by the sale of donated goods used to support programs that benefit thousands of south suburban residents who find themselves in a temporary crisis. Families in need who become clients of Together We Cope receive vouchers that allow them to shop for free up to a specified dollar limit at Nu2u, often providing them with clothing and household furnishings they otherwise could not afford. As with all resale shops, merchandise changes on a daily basis as donations arrive at the back door.
Nu2u is located at 17010 South Oak Park Ave. in downtown Tinley Park. It is open to the public. Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 pm. Saturday. Further information is at (708) 633-9180. |
‘Bride on a Budget’ at Nu2u
Together We Cope • 17010 South Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 • 708-633-5040 
