Minnesota Attorney General Criticizes Savers Thrift Store Chain

ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson says the thrift store conglomerate Savers LLC improperly handles the donations it solicits in the name of several Minnesota charities.

Savers uses the charities' names to solicit donations of clothing and household goods that are sold through retail stores. The for-profit company operates 15 stores in Minnesota under the names Savers, Unique Thrift, and Value Thrift. Minnesota charities that benefit include Vietnam Veterans of America, the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota, Courage Kenney Foundation and True Friends.

But the attorney general's office says Savers mixes its identity with those of the charities and fails to disclose the amount of a donor's donation that goes to the charity versus the amount the company keeps.

Officials with Seattle-based Savers did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.