Whether you are an avid thrifter, new to the island and in need of a few things or need to offload things you don’t want, the Kadena Thrift shop is a store you should have pinned on your Google Maps.

Kadena Thrift Shop: Okinawa Enlisted Spouses’ Club (OESC) Thrift Store & Uncle Sam’s Attic

The Kadena Thrift shop or the Okinawa Enlisted Spouses’ Club (OESC) Thrift Store & Uncle Sam’s Attic is a non-profit organization governed by the Okinawa Enlisted Spouses’ Club. The store is located in building 859 on Kadena Air Base.

Free Uniforms aka Uncle Sam’s Attic

Kadena Thrift shops are great for cheap items but did you know that active duty personnel E6 and below, as well as JROTC members of any branch and rank can receive up to 5 items (uniforms, rank, PT gear, shoes, bags, etc.) each month for FREE. Your eyes are not deceiving you.

All you have to do is go into the store, pick out your items and you’ll sign saying how many you received that month. They will keep track of this for you but always be sure to know how many you’ve collected.

Thrift Store Bucks Program

The Kadena thrift shop or OESC Thrift Store is always looking for ways to give back and one way is through their Thrift Store Bucks program. This is a program that offers $30 per month of store credit to active duty individuals and families ranked E4 and below. This credit can be used in the store on ANYTHING.

To utilize this program, all you need to do is go into the store and fill out an application. You’ll then submit the application and a copy of a current LES to the thrift store management and they will issue you six months of Thrift Store Bucks. That’s $30 a month for six months in a row. After those six months you are able to renew with a current LES.

Great Prices

One of the best things about shopping at Kadena thrift shop is the price. Most of the clothing is under $5 a piece, with most of the kids clothes only $1-2 . There is a price chart hung up throughout the store so you can always know how much items are.

There are select items that are priced individually and these are usually items that are brand new with tags, in really good condition or brand name. The pricing holds true for shoes, household items, jewelry and anything else in the store.

Make sure to check out the game section in the back. This is a great way to introduce new games to your kids without the hefty price tag. Games are less than $5, some as cheap as 50¢. When you are done with the games you can always donate them right back to the OESC Thrift Store.

The Kadena thrift shop or OESC Thrift Store also has a section in the back designated to all things baby/toddler. There are regularly big ticket baby items for sale, toys for kids, clothes and shoes. With the exchanges your only local option for American products for kids, the thrift store can provide another option for you at a fraction of the price.

If you are participating in the Thrift Store Bucks program, your $30 a month will definitely go a long way. With everything priced so reasonably you can easily leave with your arms and wallets full.

Donations

Whether you are moving, spring cleaning, rage purging, or going minimalist, keep the Kadena thrift shop in mind when getting rid of stuff. As long as your items are clean and in working condition, consider donating your old things to the thrift store.

All the proceeds go to providing scholarships to high school seniors, military spouses in continuing education and dependent children in college, so you’ll essentially be helping students further their education while getting rid of your unwanted things.

Shopping at the Kadena thrift shop or OESC Thrift Store is a great way to save money. They have lots of programs that give back to the community and it’s a great place for you to offload your unwanted, yet still in good condition items while helping out others. With the majority of the items at the store under $5, you’re sure to stock up on the next season’s clothes for you and your and still have money for a fancy coffee.

Be sure to Like and Follow the OESC Thrift Store on Facebook to get all the latest news on sales, special events, new items in the store and when they accept donations.

Looking for more? Check out these other popular articles on shopping in Okinawa