Life Skills Centers

Life Skills Centers Twelve convenient locations throughout Southeast Michigan. Oakland County: Life Focus Center, Oxford Life Skills Center, & Starting Point. St.

Providing skill building & memory care programs & services which promote personal choice, independence, community integration, & opportunities to enhance overall quality of life. Macomb County: New Haven Life Skills Center, Macomb Life Skills Center, Roseville Life Skills Centers, & Shelby Life Skills Center. Clair County: Blue Water Choices, Bright Futures, Opportunities, & Life Skills Memory Care Services.

06/07/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about individuals with disabilities is that they aren't capable of maintaining a job or building valuable workplace skills. The reality is quite the opposite. Given the right opportunities, support, and encouragement, individuals with disabilities can develop skills that help them succeed both in the workplace and in everyday life.

That's one of the reasons By The Water Thrift exists. Every day, participants gain hands-on experience learning customer service, pricing merchandise, stocking shelves, operating a register, problem-solving, and building confidence. The goal isn't simply to work inside the thrift store. It's to help individuals develop skills they can carry with them into future employment opportunities and greater independence.

For those involved in the program, one of the most rewarding experiences is watching that growth happen firsthand. Seeing someone gain confidence, expand their abilities, and eventually move on to other jobs is a powerful reminder of what's possible when people are given the chance to succeed. At By The Water Thrift, we're not just selling secondhand items. We're helping build brighter futures.

06/06/2026

When people visit By The Water Thrift, they often see great deals, friendly faces, and a welcoming atmosphere. What they may not always see is the life-changing work happening behind the scenes every day.

For the team at By The Water Thrift, the mission goes far beyond operating a thrift store. It's about helping individuals develop skills, build confidence, and discover what they're capable of accomplishing. Some of the most rewarding moments come from watching someone master a task they once thought was impossible. It might be correctly pricing an item, stocking merchandise, helping a customer, or successfully counting back change at the register. To many people, those may seem like small achievements. To the individuals learning these skills, they can be life-changing milestones that build confidence and independence.

The real reward is seeing that moment when someone realizes, "I can do this." Watching that confidence grow day after day is what makes the work so meaningful and why By The Water Thrift continues to be such a special part of the community.

05/30/2026

For someone visiting By The Water Thrift for the first time, it may look like a great local thrift store filled with unique finds and incredible deals. But behind the store is an even bigger mission. By The Water Thrift was created to provide individuals with opportunities to learn valuable life skills, gain workplace experience, build confidence, and develop skills that can help them pursue employment opportunities beyond the program.

One of the most rewarding parts of that mission is watching personal growth happen firsthand. Team members have seen individuals come into the program shy, reserved, and unsure of themselves, only to grow into confident contributors who help price merchandise, stock inventory, assist customers, and work at the register. Those moments of growth and independence are what make the work so meaningful.

Every donation, every purchase, and every visit helps support a mission focused on building confidence, skills, and opportunities within the community.

05/26/2026

One of the things we appreciate most at By The Water Thrift is hearing from customers who genuinely enjoy the experience of shopping here and become part of our community over time.

A recent customer shared that they live over an hour away, but every time they come to Marine City, they make it a point to stop into the store because they love the deals, the atmosphere, and the friendly, helpful people they meet here. Comments like that truly mean the world to our team because we work hard to create a welcoming environment where people enjoy browsing, treasure hunting, and supporting a meaningful cause at the same time.

At By The Water Thrift, it has always been about more than just shopping. It is about community, connection, and creating a place people genuinely enjoy coming back to.

05/23/2026

This Memorial Day, all of us at By The Water Thrift want to take a moment to honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives serving our country. While many people gather with family and friends this weekend, it is also important to reflect on the true meaning behind the holiday and the sacrifices made to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.

Memorial Day is about gratitude, remembrance, and honoring those who never made it home. It is a time to recognize the courage of our fallen service members and the families who continue to carry their memory forward.

From our entire team, thank you to all who have served and especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

05/16/2026

One of the most rewarding parts of what we do at By The Water Thrift is watching people grow in confidence as they develop new skills and realize what they’re capable of accomplishing. The work happening here goes far beyond simply learning how to stock shelves, run a register, or organize merchandise. These are real-life skills that help individuals become more independent, more confident, and more prepared for opportunities both inside and outside the workplace.

One of the biggest areas of growth we see is customer service. Learning how to communicate with customers, answer questions, engage in conversation, and build positive interactions helps strengthen confidence in ways that impact everyday life far beyond the store itself. Those social and communication skills become tools people carry with them into future jobs, relationships, and personal independence.

At By The Water Thrift and Life Skills Centers, we believe meaningful work experiences can truly change lives. Watching someone realize “I can do this” is one of the most powerful moments we get to witness, and honestly, those moments are what make this mission so important to our community.

05/09/2026

One of the most rewarding moments at By The Water Thrift isn’t just seeing customers find great deals, it’s watching our consumers realize what they’re capable of. There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing that spark hit someone’s face when they successfully learn a new skill for the first time. Whether it’s pricing merchandise, working the register, or confidently counting back change to a customer, those moments build independence, confidence, and pride.

For many people, these may seem like small everyday tasks. But for our consumers, they can represent huge personal victories and meaningful growth. The moment someone realizes “I did that myself” is the exact reason programs like ours matter so much. It’s about more than running a thrift store in Marine City MI. It’s about creating opportunities, building life skills, and helping people feel seen, capable, and valued within their community.

Every purchase and every visit helps support these moments. And honestly, seeing those smiles and that confidence grow is one of the best feelings in the world.

05/02/2026

There are moments that remind you exactly why a place like By The Water Thrift exists, and it’s not just about what’s on the shelves. It’s when customers walk in and genuinely connect with the individuals working in the store. Conversations happen, smiles are shared, and you can see it in real time, people feel valued. That kind of interaction goes far beyond shopping, it creates a sense of purpose and belonging for everyone involved.

One of the best examples of that is customers who come in every single Friday just to see Jordan. Not just to shop, but to connect. That says everything about the kind of environment this place creates. It’s welcoming, it’s real, and it’s built on relationships that matter. That’s what makes this more than just a thrift store, it’s a place where people show up for each other.

If you’ve experienced it, you understand. If you haven’t, stop in and see what makes this place so special.

04/25/2026

When someone walks into By The Water Thrift and immediately talks about the people, you know you’re doing something right. From helping customers out to their cars to creating a welcoming, supportive environment, it’s the kind of place where people feel taken care of the moment they walk in. That level of care makes a real difference, especially for those who need a little extra help.

But it doesn’t stop there. A clean, well-organized store, unique antiques, and pricing that keeps people coming back again and again all play a part in the experience. It’s not just about finding something great, it’s about enjoying the process and feeling good while you’re there. That’s what makes this Marine City thrift store a favorite for so many in the community.

If you’ve stopped in, found something special, or had a great experience, take a minute to leave a review. It helps others discover a place that truly cares about its customers.

Address

P. O. Box 380676
Clinton Township, MI
48038

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+15864683682

Website

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