photo by: Lauren Fox

The Social Service League has about 800 items for its back to school sale.

Lawrence’s Social Service League is putting on a back-to-school sale starting Wednesday with all items $2 or under.

The sale will take place at the league’s thrift shop, located at 905 Rhode Island St. Clothing size will range from 4T to 14/16, and the league has about 800 items in stock, said Meg Davis, secretary of the board.

Pants, skirts and dresses are $1, tops are 50 cents, jackets are $2 and shoes are between 50 cents and $1. As always with the Social Service League, anyone who cannot afford to pay for their items can also receive the items for free by using one of the league’s vouchers.

The back-to-school sale will begin Wednesday, Aug. 26, and end Saturday, Sept. 5. Because of the small size of the store, shopping must be done via appointment. Those interested in the sale may sign up for a shopping time slot online at calendly.com/socialserviceleaguesale/30min or by calling 785-843-5414 or emailing 905rhodeisland@gmail.com.

photo by: Lauren Fox

The Social Service League is located at 905 Rhode Island St.

The Social Service League’s thrift store has not been open to the public since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Davis said the closure was meant to be temporary, but that the store ultimately had to lay off all of its employees. Opening safely would mean greatly reducing the number of customers in the store at one time, Davis said, and paying employees to work those shifts with reduced customers would end up costing the nonprofit money.

Though the store has not been open, the Social Service League has continued serving the community by providing free clothing and necessities to shelters and other clients, as well as helping the homeless, Davis said. It provides optometrist appointments and new prescription glasses for those who need them. The organization also just started a program to provide steel-toed boots to people in need who are beginning construction jobs.

The Social Service League had to buy 500 children’s-sized hangers for the sale, so it isn’t expecting to make a profit from it, Davis said. The league hopes the sale will help families in need find clothing for their children’s back-to-school needs.

photo by: Lauren Fox

Meg Davis, secretary of the Social Service League board, pictured in the building at 905 Rhode Island St.