For volunteers working at the Mercer Island Thrift Shop, sifting through the donation bins is often like sifting for gold; every once in a while, they declare “Eureka!”
Such was the case two weeks ago when Youth and Family Services (YFS) volunteer Chloe Dauwalder discovered $9,000 in savings bonds bundled up in the pocket of a pair of men’s pants.
The shock of her discovery did not phase the 19-year-old, who immediately located the owner’s name on the bonds and approached a co-worker, Don Rupp, about contacting the donor to return his money. The two employees were able to find the Island resident’s name in a phone book and return the bonds. The owner, needless to say, was grateful for Dauwalder’s honesty.
Yet Dauwalder, who is paying her way through college at Seattle Pacific University, said she didn’t think twice about returning the bonds.
“It’s only natural. Anyone else would have done the same,” she said.
Not according to the local TV media. King 5, Fox and Komo 4 news picked up the story on July 12, praising Dauwalder as a hero.
“Teen Good Samaritan Saves the day,” read Fox’s KCPQ headline, “Teen comes to rescue twice in one day,” echoed Komo 4 news, referring to a second act that, Dauwalder admits, was more heroic than returning found savings bonds: A few hours after the teenager’s $9,000 discovery, she was upstairs in the thrift shop’s dressing room hallway when a woman collapsed in a seizure.
As a certified EMS first response trainee, Dauwalder knew exactly what to do. She gently laid the woman, in her mid-40s according to Dauwalder, on the floor and called 911. An emergency response team arrived minutes later. According to Dauwalder, the woman is doing fine.
“Her sister came by the other day to pick up some of her stuff and said that she was doing OK,” the YFS volunteer said, adding that she did not know further details about the woman’s health.
Thrift shop assistant manager Logan Ens commended Dauwalder for her quick action in responding to the seizure. As for returning the $9,000, he agreed with Dauwalder — any of his employees would have done the same.
“All of our staff are very honest. The news has made it seem like a huge deal, but this actually happens a lot,” Ens said, adding that a few years ago, a volunteer discovered $1,500 in cash hidden in the sleeves of several LP records. “It took a few days to track the owner down, but we eventually found him and returned the money.”
But most often volunteers find small amounts of cash — $5 or $10 bills forgotten in the pockets of purses, pants or jackets. Thrift shop employees attempt to find who donated the items and return the money. Sometimes, this cannot be done. In such cases, the money is put into lost and found for 30 days. If it is not claimed by then, the cash goes toward Youth and Family Services, as does all thrift shop earnings.
Yet there are discoveries far more interesting than cash. Ens, who has worked at the Island store for nine years, rattles off a list of eclectic, valuable and historically significant items donated to the second-hand store.
“We’ve had all sorts of cool stuff,” Ens said. “It’s a lot like [the Discovery Channel’s] ‘Antique Road Show’ around here.”
Just the other day, for example, somebody donated a 14 karat gold Egyptian winged scarab brooch. Having developed an eye for the valuable, Ens looked the item up on e-Bay. A similar piece in silver was going for $695. Because the piece Ens held was more intricate in design and made from gold, he guessed that it could sell for more. Yet the assistant manager was hesitant to give a price, as the pendant had not yet been appraised.
Determining the value of an item is part of Ens job, and he’s become quite good at it.
“Often people don’t realize the value of items that they donate. They just want things off their hands. Working here, you have to pay attention. You develop an eye for the valuable,” he said.
Ens has a few sources to help him out. Most often, he will search for an item on eBay to asses its selling value. In special cases, he will have the donation appraised. Usually, the store sells its merchandise at 30 percent of regional retail prices. Valuable items, however, often warrant more.
“For interesting, eclectic items, we usually have them appraised and sell them for what they’re worth,” Ens said, adding that YFS — as a non-profit — has an appraiser who often does the job for free.
Other items of value never make it to the shop shelves. Ens recalls an autobiography written and signed by Amelia Earheart. An appraiser determined that the signature was genuine. It was sold on eBay for $500. In December 2005, a cubic zirconia seven-diamond ring was donated in a bag of anonymous belongings. The ring was auctioned off for $2,500.
A small, bronze sculpted bear, titled “Where Paths may Cross,” is another example. Listed as “limited edition,” the 10-inch piece of art was sculpted by renown Montana artist Ken Rowe. Its value? Anywhere between $5,000 and $6,000, said Ens. Yet the bear, which sits across from Ens’ desk, also holds sentimental value.
“It’s my favorite piece,” Ens said. “I’m loathe to sell it.”
And for now, at least, the beautifully carved bear belongs to the thrift shop and its employees; A subtle reminder of that age-old adage: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Quite appropriate, it seems, for the Mercer Island Thrift Shop.
