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Business & Tech

Thrift Store Sets Up in Former Weekends Only Location

Profits from the business will go to support Disabled American Veterans.

The former Weekends Only furniture outlet on Gravois Road will soon be the home of Red Racks, a thrift store whose profits go entirely to support Disabled American Veterans.

The cavernous space at 8445 Gravois Road once filled with mattress and love seats was being organized into rows lined with clothing racks and shelves Tuesday afternoon. Manager Ryan Nabard said if progress continues as planned the store will open May 24 and sell clothes, furniture, housewares, electronics and much else. Donations will also be accepted.

"This is probably the biggest store we have," said Nabard, who has been with the company for more than three years. "We've got anything and everything you can think of."

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Red Racks was formerly known as the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store and is operated by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapter in Kansas City, where it runs several other stores. The Affton location will be its first in St. Louis. 

Bargain hunters will benefit more than their bottomlines by shopping at the store. According to the organization's website, DAV provides a host of services to soliders such as helping them file disability claims, find employment and education, and access healthcare. The non-profit was founded in 1920 and now has 1.2 million members.

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The need for its services is also expected to grow. An investigation by the AP reported that the number of disabled veterans has grown by 25 percent from 2001 to 2008 and the cost of care is expected to doubled in the coming decades. Advocates for veterans have also raised concern over a growing backlog of claims faced by the federal Veteran's Administration. 

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