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Best Stores In Pittsburgh That Give To Charity

By Sally Turkovich

No one can deny the fabulous rush you get when you buy a new handbag or the perfect gift for your friend or even a fabulous new piece of artwork for your house. Check out these top places that will fulfill your shopping high AND your sense of community. There is something for everyone at these unique shops and each of these stores gives back to our fair city through various sales, events and promotions. Shopping combined with charitable donations made in your honor? Yes please!

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(Source: Ambiance Boutique - www.ambianceboutique.org)

Ambiance Boutique

1039 S. Braddock Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
(412) 243 5523
Hours: Tues-Wed, Fri-Sat 11am-5:30pm;Thurs 11am-8pm
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428 Allegheny River Blvd
Oakmont, PA 15139
(412) 828 1946
Hours: Tues-Wed, Fri-Sat 11am-5:30pm;Thurs 11am-8pm
Business Directory Listing

With two locations, Ambiance Boutique prides itself on having a large consignment collection of ever-changing designer duds, jewelry and home furnishings. If the mention of Louis Vuitton and Chanel on their website isn't enough to draw you in to one of their stores, then their mission surely will: All proceeds go directly to Bethlehem Haven, a non-profit women's shelter in Pittsburgh whose mission is to provide homeless women with housing and the support they need to rise to self-sufficiency. Shopping with purpose has never been so decadent! Visit the website for info on their consignment policies and check out their customer wish list service!

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(Source: Designer Days Boutique - http://designerdaysboutique.com)

Designer Days Boutique

5846 Ellsworth Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 441 0330
Hours: Tues, Thu-Sat 10am-5:30; Wed 10am-7pm; Sun 11am-4pm
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I found Designer Days Boutique a few years ago on dreary Saturday while taking a break from studying for finals. I didn't know what to expect when I walked into the store, I was merely looking for a break from schoolwork; but I came out with a gorgeous vintage fur shawl and a feeling of peace knowing that all of the profit from my purchase was going to be turned into a charitable donation. All store proceeds from DDB benefit the National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh. NCJW conducts community service projects and advocacy activities designed to improve the lives of women, children and families in Pittsburgh. Another bonus? If you decide you would like to take some of your designer clothes in for consignment, you can park in the lot next to their building for free while you take care of the consignment process. That's a pretty big deal in Shadyside where parking spaces are notoriously hard to come by!

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(Source: Dirty Harry's - http://dirtyharrys.net/)

Dirty Harry's Bicycles

730 Allegheny River Boulevard
Verona, PA 15147
(412) 828-2667
Hours: Tue, Thu 10am-8pm; Wed, Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-4pm; Sun closed
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Owned by the same local family since it first opened its doors, Dirty Harry's is the place to go for your new bike. The staff is experienced and passionate about cycling and the shop owner is active in charitable events throughout the Pittsburgh area. Each summer, Verona holds a community day and the staff from the shop steps out into the town to provide free bike tune-ups and free bike helmets to anyone who needs them. Used and abandoned bicycles are also collected and taken throughout the year to Free Ride Pittsburgh, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping people of all ages own their own bicycles.

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(Source: Eyetique - http://www.eyetique.com)

Eyetique

2242 Murray Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 422 5300
Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm
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Seven locations throughout the Pittsburgh Area

Eyetique is known nationally for their amazing eyewear brands they sell like Cartier, Oliver Peoples and their own Norman Childs Eyewear and the dedicated staff features some of the friendliest stylists around. They're known even better locally for their annual $95 eyewear sale and their dedication to the communities in which their stores are located. Each year, Eyetique President Norman Childs chooses a local charity to donate a percentage of each frame sold during the $95 sale each spring. If that wasn't enough, the company Vice President Brad Childs participates in Animal Rescue Flights, a non-profit near and dear to his heart that rescues dogs from euthanization and flies them to shelters with space to care for them and holds special events like dog food collection days in select stores that benefit ARF.

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(Source: Ten Thousand Villages - www.tenthousandvillages.com)

Ten Thousand Villages

5824 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 421 2160
Hours: Wed 10am-6pm, Thurs 10am-8pm, Fri and Sat 10am-6pm
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Staffed entirely by volunteers, Ten Thousand Villages promotes fair trade and fair wage practices for artists in developing countries. Home decor, jewelry, toys and musical instruments are just some of the wares available at this gorgeous little gem of a store in the heart of Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. All profits from the goods sold in the store are donated directly back to the artists as a living wage so that they can continue to make their crafts. Ten Thousand Villages is the perfect place to go to pick up unique gifts when you just can't think of what to get someone!

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(Source: Wildcard - http://wildcardpgh.com)

Wildcard

4209 Butler Street
Lawrenceville, PA 15201
(412) 224 2651
Hours: Tues-Wed, Fri-Sat 11am-7pm, Thurs 11am-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm
Website: www.wildcardpgh.com

Located in Pittsburgh's artist and bicycling friendly Lawrenceville neighborhood, Wildcard specializes in selling handmade cards, gifts, stationary and art produced by Pittsburgh artists and designers. Wildcard holds special events like a Pinball Tournament that supports Bike Pgh, a non-profit that promotes bicycle safety and organizes critical-mass bike rides to bring attention to Pittsburgh's growing cyclist community. Buying locally produced goods like that birthday card for your mom from a shop so in-tune with its community feels so much better than buying a card from a chain store!

Sally Turkovich lives in Pittsburgh with her fiancé, Jason and German Shepherd, Zeus. By day, she works as an eyewear stylist for an independent eye doctor. By night, she dons her favorite wrap dress and heels and heads out for date night with Jason.

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