North Okanagan again....

Made a trip up to the north Okanagan yesterday, with Salmon Arm being the primary objective.  Beginning of the 3-day Toonie bag sale at the Churches of Salmon Arm thrift store and we arrived just in time for the door crasher at 10.  Usual variety of items you'd never pay anything for but fine if you can cram it into a grocery bag.  It's X'mas (and easter and halloween) here all year so it wasn't overwhelmed with X'mas stuff.

Headed over to the Kindale, which has quite a bit of X'mas stuff out, and high prices to boot so we walked out empty handed.  Next was Hudson of the CMHA where we bought a tail end of seam binding, all we need, for just $0.05.  yes, a nickel.

Heading back south, the first stop was the Second Chance of Enderby Care Society.  It's gotten more stock since moving and reopening this summer.  Quite a bit of X'mas stuff but not exclusively so.  Quite a few nice vintage items (but pricey).  Probably stuff that was moved to furnish cabins and vacation homes in Mabel Lake and being donated as the houses turnover.

Next was the health care auxiliary in Armstrong.  Pretty much the whole store (clothes racks and housewares sections closed off) was devoted to X'mas.  They even shut the store for one day to reorganise, but at least the X'mas sale is only for 3 days this week before reverting to normal.

The original Kindale wasn't too much in the X'mas mode, just the larger back rooms whch we've never found anything of interest.

Down to Vernon, we made the usual circuit with the larger and newer Salvation Army being the first.  Prices can be high here but there can be some bargains.  Not too X'massy.

Heading to the downtown core, we started at the Sal Mart, which I don' think is any better following the remodel (housewares and collectibles are not out front which is better lit but it means it may be more picked over).  Not very X'massy either  Went over to the local Pro Life next Always dreary in here and we found nothing we wanted.

Over to the west side and the new Kindale which is getting more stuff.  Very x'massy throughout as was the Upper Room Mission boutique.  Very annoying for those who want to do secular shopping.  Fortunately the Loonie/Dollar Bin wasn't.

Northern Okanagan part I

Off the highway in the northern Okanagan, there are 3 thrift shops that I know of. Well worth visiting.

In Armstrong, the famed home of some cheddar that isn't made there anymore despite the brand name are, surprisingly, two thrift stores.  Both are quite a ways off the highway in the middle of the old town.

The first one is Kindale, which was founded here to help developmentally-disabled people and employs them.  Armstrong is still home.  The thrift store is on Patterson west of Okanagan.  Medium sized shop with a plethora of things.  Good prices, fairly arranged though a bit shabby.  Maybe something for everyone.  Street parking as well as a lot across the street.

Across the rail track on Pleasant Valley west of Okanagan is the local hospital auxilliary.  Medium size again.  It has nice arrangement and a fair amount of stuff, perhaps a little more than Kindale.  Good prices.  Street parking.

Heading north to Enderby, the Twice But Nice community thrift shop has moved to Cliffe Avenue on the west side of the highway from its former home on the east side.  Newly reopened, I don't think stock has been brought out during our visit in late June.  Small, nice old-fashioned store. Fair prices.  Street parking.