Illegal Items For Sale at Local Goodwill and Salvation Army

A warning to those who shop at Hudson Valley Salvation Army or Goodwill stores; these items are illegal and dangerous for children.  The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that a recent investigation uncovered children's clothing made with drawstrings available for purchase at the Goodwill stores in Wappingers Falls and Vails Gate along with the Salvation Army in New Paltz.  A law was passed over a decade ago that bans the sale of drawstring clothing for children. The law also covers thrift and charity shops.

The Journal quotes statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that show between 1985 and 2011 there were 26 child deaths directly caused by drawstring clothing.  The NY Attorney General has sent cease-and-desist letters to the local stores.  If they continue to sell the illegal clothing they will be subject to paying fines.

If you've purchased drawstring clothing for your children you should discard it immediately.