People are squirreling away into their homes because of the cold temperatures. That means they are also rooting around in their closets for something suitable to wear.

The summer frocks are being packed away and we’re opening the boxes, bags or drawers holding our winter clothes.

This means we’re making so important keep-or-dump fashion decision. People are more apt to send items off to the charity bin now more than ever (some are looking at end of the year tax write-offs, others looking to make room for the new sweaters and coats they want to buy).

Do you really want to pack that purple floral dress away again? You didn’t wear it this year and you’re not going to wear it next year. You don’t even know why you bought it. And now that you mention it, as you unearth last year’s sweaters, aren’t there a couple that you know will not make it into the weekly wardrobe rotation.

October is prime time for resale and the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) has been capitalizing on this fickle season to benefit those in need by hosting an annual sale since 1964.

Preview the collection tomorrow (Oct. 22) from 4 to 8 p.m with a $10 donation or try your luck with shopping the sale and pitching elbows with the masses on Friday (Oct. 23) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday (Oct. 24) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The resale shop is located at 8612 Olive Boulevard, 314-692-6141.

You can even take over a bag of clothes and accessories from your own closet. You can be thrifty and charitable all at the same time.

By the way, NCJW uses the funds to promote projects such as the Back-to-School Store, which will celebrate its 10th year in August 2010. In 2009, 950 low-income children were outfitted with clothing and school supplies so they could enter the school year with confidence.

Check the NCJW Resale Shop’s website for a list of other programs that receive funds from the group.

By the way, the photos above are not actual products from the sale, just clothing examples. The red coat is from Patagonia