We have so many valuable charities on the Monterey Peninsula which support many different needs in our community. I especially love this particular shop because the staff is ALWAYS so friendly, helpful and grateful. I urge you to consider donating your unneeded items to this amazing charity shop!! The only problem will be that you'll leave off items but assuredly will go home with some lovely treasure!! No worries! It all goes to a good cause, helping seniors. read more

Worst service I've ever experienced. The manager/owner has an attitude problem, she's been a bitch not only to me but also my mom and mother in law on three separate occasions. She seems to think it's funny to embarrass people, in front of as many people as possible. Very unprofessional! We will never shop or donate to this store again. read more

This is my favorite shop in the Barnyard. They have the most reasonable prices and very kind volunteers. Skip Yellowbrick Road & the other thrift stores, which are absolutely overpriced. read more

Great thrift store! Prices are much better than the other 2 thrift stores right on the same street. Lots of home furnishings. I will go back next time I'm in the area. read more

See all

This is a nice little thrift shop! I saw some great prices on furniture, and bought a few greeting cards. Friendly cashier told me about the card artist. Prices on puzzles and games were high; okay on clothes with a fashion theme that skewed mature. Definitely worth a stop when you go to this thrift store center! read more

After you hit the yellow brick road and the SPCA thrift shops you will be very pleased to see the prices at joining hands! They are not going to gouge you on the beautiful items here! I found some very nice things at reasonable prices, and was very pleased with my purchases. Also very nice people. It's refreshing seriously after the other two shops that are within the Corridor. read more

I really enjoyed shopping at this store last week. The power was out everywhere but this store was open and purchases had to be with cash or check only. No problem. Because the other stores were closed, we lingered longer than usual. The more we shopped...the more we found. It was fun to go slow and really take the time to peruse the place. Wonderful time...the ladies were wonderful as well. Going back soon! read more

Love this benefit shop, the ladies are so nice and welcoming to all. I love that they are welcoming to the younger crowd too who love thrift shopping. They get wonderful furniture pieces & their prices are quite fair, when they have a sale stock up!!! read more

Disappointing. Was met with the rudest attitude that came with a eye roll when I walked in this morning from one of the elderly cashiers upon walking in. Usually I'd brush that off and move on but the prices sent me to Yelp. There's no point in owning a thrift store if you charge full price for worn clothing and trinkets. Such a shame. read more

Such a great place! The prices are amazing! The store has great quality items. Some even have the original tags on them! Somehow it has a calming yet lively atmosphere! I think it's because it's such a cheerful place. It's a beautiful store overall with fantastic deals, great quality items, and the nicest staff!! Plus the doors are open, so you feel the fresh air even when inside. Everyone wears masks, so I felt safe too. read more

Joining Hands Benefit Shop - Thrift Stores Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

This is a wonderful shop! The merchandise is outstanding and the staff are great! I've found some gems - clothing, furniture and books

This is a very pricey thrift store! For a plain Gap tee $14!?! Not at a Thrift store I won't! Lol. Most of the items were very vintage. The service wasn't the best. I spoke to the cashier and said "how are you?" he replied 'good' and went on about his business. No 'thank you. How are you?' none of that. Smh. read more

I just bought two amazing paperback books from the Furnishings store for $1 each. They were a gift for my husband. He loved them. read more

Joining Hands Benefit Shop - Awesome desk. I think this would make a great arts and craft table. - Thrift Stores Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Incredibly friendly staff. I noticed most of the reviews are quite dated and inaccurate for the current situation. I am new to the area but was told shop was recently renovated and perhaps the staff are new too since all were friendly. I don't consider the items overpriced considering the quality of most. One beautiful dress I bought was priced at about 10% of the new price (dress was donated new with tags attached). Again, the jewelry was reasonable for the quality of the merchandise. Obviously, they can only sell what is donated and need to cover their rent as well as provide services for those they are helping so prices can't be totally rock bottom (although I noticed someone buying two perfect looking drinking glasses for a dollar yesterday which is as close as it gets). read more

Dropped off a donation of over fifty items or sets of costume jewelry from my mom. I had been avoiding giving it away for some time but finally made the decision to do so. The people at the shop were very appreciative of my donation. I felt glad to be able to give them something that can generate some small amount of income for them. read more

This used to be one of my favorite thrift stores but now it's hard to find a treasure. This week I found some new notebooks for $1.00. That was a good deal. But most items are over priced. The upside is that it is a nice boutique type store...well organized and clean. The sister furniture store around the corner is a joke...it's a very high priced antique store with laughable pricing. Don't waste your time there. read more

Whenever visiting family in Carmel, always head for the Barnyard for a fun day of thriftin'. Enjoy dropping into consignment store, SPCA, and Sunflower Benefit Shops. Now there's a new kid on the block (year or two) pulling out all the stops for a fine, noteworthy browsing and shopping treat! Their creative window displays delight the eye, beckoning one inside, first to their delightful coffee & cookies cart--start there--then roam through a stunning selection of fine furniture, housewares, bric-a-brac, stylish Ladies' and Men's clothing and classy accessories, hats, shoes, and jewelry, all reasonably priced. Hospitable volunteer staff all friendly and knowledgable; pleased to help you with your selections, as well as spread the word about this incredible Interfaith group lending their support, through Joining Hands, to housing needs throughout Monterey County. Everyone benefits! read more

First of all--there are two stores. One has more furniture than the other. Second, the flag outside--(see photo of store) --well. I dont know what they are trying to get across but--I will tell you that since they got a new guy ( he's the son of oneof the volunteers) to merchandise the furniture store--it has gone DOWNHILL. PRICES ARE SOOOOO HIGGGGHHHH. No matter how you merchandise it--it still is OVERPRICED. For junk. I dont know what the thinkgthey have BUT--its not a second hand store..it is priced as an over priced antique store that really has junk. SO sad to see the greed. Francesca is the BEST thing about this store. I would suggest going down the street to the animal league store ---they are the BEST priced and NICEST you will find. read more

I have been to this shop many times in the past 8 months. The manager, Francesca, is usually there and ready to help, as are the other volunteers. This is a local inter-denominational volunteer effort to donate to a variety of needy causes involving those less fortunate. This is also my first choice for going bargain shopping! Their inventory is quite varied and some higher end antiques, clothing and home decor. They have sales frequently to move inventory. I expect to see new things every time I visit. There are deals to fit every budget. There is always coffee and munchies as well as treats for Fido. Another plus is that once I finish at this shop, I can walk just a few steps down to 2 other thrift stores, the SPCA shop, and Yellow Brick Road. Since I come from Seaside, being able to shop 3 stores in one trip is great! This is all next to the Barnyard. It's a very nice place to go alone or with a friend. Treat yourself and others to a relaxing stroll through this thrift store mecca in the mouth of Carmel Valley. Brenda B. Seaside read more

Dont wonder who they benefit......its themselves. i found them to be unpleasant and self serving. I say, ' ladies, if you are that bored and indifferent, there are hundreds of other people that would love to work there, or volunteer. Would love to cater to the patrons that come in. As for the pricing???!!! It's no 'benefit. ' Yo, manager! Those items that are huh, donated......should be priced, accordingly. Well, I know I speak to 'deaf ears' too bad, to. Such potential, wasted on complacency. read more

one of the most appreciative shops when it comes to donation drop offs next to mpvs in seaside. staff is friendly and i am happy to know the donated items and or the money it makes goes to a good cause. yes! read more

Before the incident I will describe, I had been to this shop many times since it opened. I usually purchase some things there. I will not return there anymore after a recent unpleasant incident with the "manager on duty" whose name I will leave out. I had seen at the shop several times a couple pieces that I liked and each had stickers marked $2.oo. When the store had a 50% sale recently, I noticed that the items had no price stickers. I asked a woman working there how much they were and she said she had to ask the manager. She came back with stickers showing $8.oo on each item. I said that I had seen them several times before for $2.oo each and she said "The manager marked them $8.oo each." I didn't purchase them or another item I had picked and left the store. I went back later and asked another person if they were correctly priced since I had seen them before for $2.oo each. She said she would have to speak to the manager. Then a woman, who said she was the manager, came out the back room and rudely told me "They are $8.oo each and today they are $4.oo each - do you want them or not?" I told her that I had seen them before for $2.oo each and she responded in her rude tone that she had priced them and that she as the manager could do that when someone removes the stickers. I told her that was not alright, the stickers on previous visits to the shop said $2.oo and that I had NOT removed the stickers. She then took the items away, went to the other room, and said that who is to believe, me or her. She insulted me there with other shoppers present. I told her that I will never go back to the shop and her answer was "Fine" and she laughed out loud at me. I was embarrassed and bothered by all this. I left the shop. Afterwards I wrote several times to some higher-than-she person and eventually I got a couple responses apologizing for this and saying that they had confirmed with the manager what I had described and that when items are not priced the manager can do that. The point that initiated the problem, that those items were $2.oo each before and now $8.oo each, was not addressed. I can't understand how a "benefit" shop does that when they should be happy they get money from donated items. I will not go back to that shop and I'd advise people to either avoid it or to be careful when they go in. In addition, items are normally overpriced. Just to quote somebody who had a similar experience in 2014: "This was the most degrading experience I have ever had while shopping. And this is run by an Interfaith group. As for me, I won't be supporting their charity work anymore." read more

I don't understand the complaints of other reviewers. I went to the clothing store one Saturday in February 2015, deciding for no particular reason to donate to them items that no longer fit since I lost weight, and found they were having a 50% off sale. I came home with a winter coat and a wool sports jacket, having spent less than $25 total. These are classic items that will serve me well when I travel to my home office in Ohio next fall. This store and the nearby home furnishings consignment store were better organized and more attractive than any of the other consignment stores on the peninsula I have visited. Consignment stores run for profit here do often seem overpriced, while those run by charities often seem cluttered and staffed by slightly dotty volunteers, making me wonder if the items I donate will ever result in funds for needed help to the poor. This was not the case at Joining Hands. Moreover, I've read about what they do with the money raised. It all goes to homeless ministries. They seem to raise large sums by making sure the merchandise moves fast. I commend them for doing wonderful work. read more

Having moved to Carmel in 1989, after being honorably discharged from the US Air Force after 8 years of service, I have been to this store many times in the past since it was opened. I work in a very respectable administrative position where integrity is paramount and although I make a good salary, I make regular rounds of The thrift shops in this area, mainly the Yellow Brick Road and the SPCA thrift shop which are both great, friendly staff and very helpful. On this morning however, after visiting the YBR and SPCA, I stopped in to Joining Hands. They had a sign outside that read 50% off everything in the store. While inside, a woman walked around and let everyone know about the sale. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, picked up a couple of things and went to the register. When I got there the cashier told me that one of the items I had picked up had 2 tags and he would have to speak to the manager because the white tag read $25.00 and the yellow tag read $5.00. I said that was fine. He came back seconds later and said the manager was eating her lunch in the back room and would be out in a minute. A few minutes past and a woman came from another room, not the back, and walked to the register. The cashier proceeded to explain the two tags and wanted direction on what to do. The woman looked at me and looked at the tags and said "the price is $25.00. "The yellow tag was wrong and that if I wanted it for 50% off $25.00 I could have it, alright?" I told her that was not alright, the tag said $5.00 and that I expected the merchandise to be sold for the price on the tag, a policy that any store would honor . The cashier said "we should just give it to her for the $5.00." The woman began to tell me that " she has been in retail for 30 years and sometimes customers put different tags on merchandise" I was embarrassed by this and shocked as there were other customers shopping nearby who could not help but overhear her. I told her I hoped she was not insinuating that I had done this? She made a face and said, "well I've done everything I can to accommodate you" and went into the back room. The manager never came out. The poor cashier and everyone else in the store stopped talking and stood completely still for what seemed like an eternity. I told the cashier softly that I would just like to pay for the other two items I had and go. We were both shaking. He quickly rang me up, did the transaction and I left the store, humiliated and hoping no one I knew had witnessed this. This was the most degrading experience I have ever had while shopping. I go to thrift shops to support local charities, recycle and find items that are still usable rather than by new. And this is run by an Interfaith group. I don't know the woman's name but it is obvious why she is no longer in retail. The Cashier has my condolences. As for me, I won't be supporting their charity work anymore. read more