This just in from my homeland of Minneapolis, MN: thrift shops and shoppers are saving charitable organizations from the grips of the recent recession. With sales at Goodwill up 15 percent over last year and increases at other Twin Cities thrift stores not far behind, that's a whole lot of cash flowing into charities that have come on hard times due to the economic slump. Nationwide statistics show that one in five shoppers made back-to-school purchases at a thrift store. So keep at it, thrifters ... let's keep the economy growing, and find ourselves some treasures at bargain prices in the process!