Despite economy woes, business at Vicksburg thrift and consignment shops is mixed. But one thing is steady: the demand for clean, quality items to offer customers.

“It’s been fair this summer,” said Shirley Malone, manager of We Care Community Services Variety Store at China and Monroe streets. “We’re not making a lot of money in our store. We’re just here to help people.”

The store has been in business for years, Malone said, and sells clothes, dishes, books, knickknacks and small household items. Also, We Care gives clothes to the homeless, travelers in need, fire victims and, in its Dress For Success program, those who need clothes for job interviews.

“Everything in our store is very reasonably priced,” Malone said. “But we need donations. We need underwear, socks, t-shirts, anything we can get, especially clothes for big people – 2X, 3X – and the clothes need to be clean and in good condition.”

Donations can be dropped at the store or taken to the We Care Community Services building at 909 Walnut St. between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

At River City Rescue Mission, Jackson resident Joyce Anderson was buying things to package in church gift baskets.

“Compared to last year, business has picked up quite a bit,” store manager Gregory Dart said. “We’re seeing people buy clothes, furniture, bric-a-brac – whatever they can find a deal on.”

River City sells just about everything, including used large appliances and school desks. The shop has a bag sale each Thursday and Saturday, and shoppers can fill a sack with clothes for $5.

“You can always find what you’re looking for here,” Dart said. “Every day, there’s something new.”

The mission receives donations three or four times a day but can always use more, Dart added. “We take anything. We’ll take all your old stuff and recycle it.”

Thrift and consignment shopsRiver City Rescue Mission3705 Washington St.8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday601-636-6602Salvation Army Thrift Shop530 Mission 669 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday601-636-2769, 601-636-1968We Care Community Services Variety Store1201 Monroe St.8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Thursday601-638-6327The Treasure Chest and Sewing Center3444 Halls Ferry Road8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday8 a.m-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Wednesday8 a.m.-noon Saturday601-636-0832This n That Resale and Consignment Shop43 Fisher Ferry Road9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday601-619-4422Donors can bring things to the store or call for furniture, appliances and other large items to be picked up.

The Salvation Army thrift shop on Mission 66 has seen a “decent flow” of people looking for clothing and household goods, said assistant manager Rick Turner. “All types of people come here and buy stuff. The economy is tough for everybody,” he said.

Sales this summer have been a little slow but, in general, are about even with last year, said Keolani Lyons, who, with her husband Patrick, serves as captain of the Salvation Army. “Donations are up – people have been giving a lot-but we always are in need of more.”

Especially appreciated are furniture items, baby and children’s clothing, school uniforms and bedding, Turner said.

“We help a lot of fire victims,” Lyons said.

The Salvation Army also helps homeless people who are trying to get back on their feet. “We can assist them with that,” she said.

Revenues from thrift shop sales go to fund the Salvation Army’s programs, including meals, after-school tutoring and youth activities and Saints Alive, a weekly program for seniors.

“We are in need of volunteers to help us with the (after school) program,” Lyons said

The Salvation Army also needs donations of food for its daily meal, a community effort with donated food prepared by volunteers from Vicksburg churches and clubs. “We need chicken, hamburger and other meats, rice, vegetables – food in large quantities for our feeding program.”

At the Treasure Chest and Sewing Center on Halls Ferry Road, David and Linda Samples offer what they call “junktiques.”

“We’ve got the remnants of estates after the heirs and the dealers have gone through them, or after people have cleaned out their garages,” David Samples said. The store also takes a few consignments.

Business has been down slightly over last year, he said, but he has cut his profit margin, barters with customers and makes package deals to keep inventory moving. “I’d rather make a quick nickel than a slow nothing,” he said.

The store also offers repairs to lamps, sewing machines and some small appliances as well as alterations to clothing. “From what I’ve seen, people are refurbishing and overhauling what they already have,” Linda Samples said. She has been in business altering clothing and adjusting hems for about 28 years, though the store itself has been open seven years.

“I’ll trade, barter, take on consignment, whatever,” David Samples said.

This N That Resale and Consignment Shop on Fisher Ferry Road has been closed for the past two weeks after losing part of its roof in a storm, but hopes to reopen Tuesday, said owner Millie Merideth.

The summer’s business has been “bad, very bad,” she said. “People are just not making as many shopping runs. They’re making their gas count, doing all their business in one trip and not making as many shopping trips into town.”

This N That sells all types of clothing, knickknacks and small furniture items priced “from a quarter on up.”

Like the other used goods sellers, Merideth is looking for baby items, clean clothing in good shape and furniture. “And westerns. People love westerns.”