Today was the second time I had a trunk full of donations and unexpectedly found that a different local thrift store was closed... It was open the past two trips I made, and I read it was supposed to be open today on Google, so I didn't call ahead... That was a mistake, even though they don't answer the phone more often than they actually DO... I really didn't want to haul everything back in the house and possibly wrestle over emotions and decision making again if the items were back in my home. After a quick Google search, I found Harvesting Capabilities. I called and they were open. According to Google, they are open 10-4 M-F with the exception of holidays such as upcoming Labor Day. I didn't get a look at the entire store but stepped in the open back door to speak with a quite friendly staff member who kindly directed me to pull up to the front of the driveway on the right of the building near the garage. She was exceptionally more pleasant than the woman on the phone and the lady who helped carry one box from the vehicle to their garage. From what I saw, the inside was packed. It seemed like a semi small shop. It is adjoined with another entity which appeared to be a medical supply with the same name of which I know nothing first hand. It appears to have once been a ranch style home, possibly a duplex. Among the items outside their front garage door on this nice day, I spotted some good deals on vintage kitchen chairs. "$3" marked out with "$4" over them. They wouldn't work for me, and since I planned on only purging today, I left empty-handed. They were definitely tempting though. The garage floor was PACKED with bags and boxes of donations. I'm not sure if that was all from today alone. That'd be insane if it were, but on the other hand, since that other place is unreliable and was abruptly closed, who knows. The concern I had was that the open dumpster out back was FILLED to the top with what appeared to be clothing. Now, I don't know if there was something wrong with those items, but it's disheartening to see all of that in the trash and not used or at least recycled. It does give me pause about the fate of the items I donated. That's out of my hands now, but it has me second guessing donating to this place again. That leads me to wonder... If they discard clothing, are there other donations in the garbage? Do they recycle the bags and boxes? I can only hope that the items I gave are sold, used, and cherished by their next owner, as some of these were highly sentimental things I really struggled over letting go. I am guessing that the thrift shop sales benefit the disabled somehow from what I had a glance at here in another review, but I'm not sure. This review could have easily been a three star or higher had it not been for that sad dumpster. Yet again, the town of Peru falls short in quality and selection as far as businesses go. This area is not the pillar of environmentalism in the least. I'm hopeful but deeply disappointed. I will be forever haunted wondering if my things are in the trash now. read more

There's not a lot of turn over in merchandise. I can wait a month after shopping there, and go back to find the same stuff. The staff is friendly though. Especially Lilly. read more

I've worked with quite a few non-profits over the years as an activist for children's rights and an advocate for people with disabilities, but very few of these organizations have been as hospitable and warm as Harvesting Capabilities. Harvesting Capabilities is a Peru, Indiana non-profit organization started over ten years ago by two Miami county residents who recognized the need for a support group for people with disabilities in the area. Governed by a volunteer board of eight people, Harvesting Capabilities has turned into quite the impressive non-profit organization that operates a thrift store that offers a strong focus on medical adaptive equipment available at discount prices. They take new items, of course, along with gently used items that they can get re-certified and offer to the community. In the last couple years, Harvesting Capabilities also established the area's first ever 100% accessible park - a park to which my own Tenderness Tour was able to offer support financially when I wheeled through Peru on the nearby Nickel Plate Trail. Harvesting Capabilities offers regular support groups for folks with disabilities in the area and works to increase disability awareness. I even returned to the area after being invited by a Harvesting Capabilities parent to speak at Maconaquah Elementary School during a schoolwide convocation. Harvesting Capabilities is well known in the community and during my visit it was obvious they even enjoy the support of the community's leadership. While my road donations aren't typically life-changing donations, it's always exciting when a non-profit seems truly pleased to receive it and expresses gratitude for my work. I was so touched to arrive in Peru at the mayor's office and be met by multiple board members - and this was without them having any idea I planned to make a donation. I've even established ongoing friendships with local media and was featured in one of their magazines (for which I also just wrote an article!). This is such a neat group of people and they're doing a lot of neat projects to raise disability awareness in the Peru, Maconaquah, and even Rochester area. They established an amazing park and their thrift store continues to thrive. They're also active on social media. If you have a disability or a loved one has a disability and you're in need of support in the Miami County area of Indiana, I definitely recommend getting in touch with Harvesting Capabilities. read more

Harvesting Capabilities - Me meeting with the board of Harvesting Capabilities in Peru, Indiana - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Peru, Indiana

Good place for second hand clothing, and what-not. They also have medical accessories(walkers, canes, etc). It's the first place I go for new to me clothing, craft accessories , books, small appliances, holiday decor. Inventory always changing. read more