{
  "id": 7744668,
  "title": "Woman Thrifts $20 Plates From Church, Then Learns What They’re Really Worth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/woman-thrifts-20-plates-from-church-then-learns-what-theyre-really",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-16T08:41:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/woman-thrifts-20-plates-from-church-then-learns-what-theyre-really-worth-12444852"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Tennessee woman named Leah Rhodes experienced a fortunate find at a local church bazaar, discovering a stack of valuable plates she had never known existed. Leah, who is based in Nashville, explained that she is drawn to thrifting due to the excitement of the hunt for unique items. She mentioned that the process of searching for hidden treasures in a thrift store gives her a strong sense of satisfaction, which she described as a dopamine rush.\n\nRhodes is not alone in her passion for thrifting. The industry has seen a remarkable growth of 143 percent since 2018, according to figures from Capital One Shopping. Part of the appeal for Rhodes includes the nostalgia of the pre-digital era of shopping, where one must hunt for items rather than simply adding them to an online cart. She also appreciated the history and potential stories behind the items she finds, making each discovery feel like a special victory.\n\nWhile browsing at the church bazaar in Franklin, Leah was immediately attracted to a stack of eye-catching plates. Upon flipping one over, she noticed the MacKenzie-Childs stamp, a luxury American home décor and tableware brand founded in 1983 by Victoria and Richard MacKenzie-Childs. Although she recognized the brand, Rhodes was not an avid collector and did not immediately realize the true value of the plates.\n\nIt was only later, while waiting in her kids' school pickup line, that she looked up the information online and learned about the true worth of her find. She had purchased eight plates for a total of $20, but based on her estimates, they could be worth as much as $1,000 if sold as a set. The source of the plates at the church bazaar remains a mystery, with Leah speculating that someone from the church might have donated them during a home cleanup, unaware of their value or simply not caring.\n\nThough Leah could potentially earn a significant profit by selling the plates, she has decided to keep them as a cherished addition to her home. She has received mixed reactions from others, with some suggesting she keep them and others suggesting she sell them for profit. If she were to sell one or two plates, she stated that she would donate the proceeds to the church that initially sold them to her, expressing gratitude for their contribution to their family keepsakes.",
  "summary": "A church bazaar bargain left one Tennessee thrifter stunned when a closer look revealed she’d uncovered an unexpected treasure.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tennessee woman Leah Rhodes finds $20 plates at church bazaar.",
    "Plates turned out to be MacKenzie-Childs brand, worth up to $1,000.",
    "Leah decides to keep plates as family keepsakes, donates proceeds if sold."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}