Daily Herald opinion: Resale shops done right can strengthen our communities

The recent opening of GENEROC.I.T.Y Toy Shop in Arlington Heights is a powerful example of how resale shops rooted in community values provide real, tangible benefits.

The store is operated by C.I.T.Y. of Support, a local nonprofit whose name stands for Children in Therapy and You. It previously existed only as a Facebook group where families of children in therapy connected and supported one another.

But by launching a physical shop, the organization has transformed online support into a genuine neighborhood hub.

The new store at 1423 E. Palatine Road sells gently used toys, games, books and therapy-appropriate items at prices 50 to 75% below retail.

Those savings make these quality items more accessible to any shopper looking for a bargain, but especially for families whose children may have heightened sensory and therapeutic needs, often a costly barrier elsewhere.

Beyond affordable items, the toy shop is half retail store, half community center. The extra space hosts parent meetups, support groups, discounted therapeutic enrichment classes, free story times, therapy dog visits and respite care.

We love that these services are going far beyond what a retail space could offer.

For families whose children often need specialized care and quiet support, having a consistent, welcoming location where both kids and parents know they belong is invaluable.

And resale shops like GENEROC.I.T.Y. help build community involvement and resilience. By turning donations of gently-used toys into funding and programming for therapy-needs families, the organization reduces reliance on one-time fundraisers to generate financial backing.

What’s more, volunteers help run the store, which fosters engagement and strengthens neighborhood ties. Many of them are high school students.

In a society where packaging, consumerism and constant “newness” often dominate, resale shops send a different message. Things like toys, books and games can have second lives, and our communities are enriched when we recycle these items instead of discarding them.

“ … I think that resale shops — there’s something to it,” C.I.T.Y. of Support founder Beth Deiter said. “The new generation doesn’t like to waste anything. We want to see things going back in circulation. You want to come back here all the time because there’s always new things.”

But GENEROC.I.T.Y. Toy Shop demonstrates that resale stores like theirs are about more than saving money or avoiding waste.

They are about dignity, inclusion and building a shared space where families with children in therapy can thrive together.