Food banks

Still needed in a supposedly-advanced, developed, reputedly wealthy country, some food banks operate thrift shops for fund raising.  There are only a small handful in B.C. operated by or to support food banks.

These are located in Winfield and Creston.

Animal welfare

There are a number of animal welfare organisations that operate thrift shops.  The SPCA doesn't really count as operating shops as the organisation licenses its name out to small operators in return for a cut of revenue. The Kelowna branch (or auxiliary) however does offer a monthly bazaar and lunch sale at the First United Church.

The SPCA has these franchise shops in Sidney, View Royal, Vancouver (2), North Vancouver, Surrey (Cloverdale), Richmond (Updated March 2017: Richmond has lost the smaller SPCA shop), New West and Port Alberni (updated 9 December 2016).

Other animal welfare shops include the Wildlife one in Vancouver, a horse rescue/welfare one in Langley, a cat one in Sidney (which also has an SPCA shop a street or two over).  There is also a horse rescue on in Falkland but it has never been open whenever we've passed through.

Service organisations

There are various service organisations that operate thrift shops:

Lions
Chilliwack, Duncan, Gordon Head (Saanich / Victoria)

IODE
Penticton, Kelowna and Nelson

Not sure if it belongs here but the YWCA also has a thrift shop in Vancouver

Kelowna Pt III

I've long been aware of it but there's not much information, and the shop is closed in summer, but the First United Church in Kelowna (at 721 Bernard) has a thrift store in its basement.  Open only Wednesday to Friday, hours are limited.  Prices are excellent, the volunteer staff are very friendly.  Free lot and street parking.  Very small but well-organised.  Usual assortment except furniture.

Victoria West - VIew Royal and Esquimalt

Some of our better finds have been west of Victoria Harbour, a seemingly-richer place with lots of stock.

Immediately across the harbour in the mall encompassed by Bay, Wilson and Tyee is a small WIN.  It has mainly clothes but some housewares and collectibles.  Free lot parking.

WIN Westside

Heading west on Craigflower just west of Tillicum (NW side) is a Saint Vincent de Paul.  This one seems to have better a selection of housewares and collectibles.  Decent prices.  Free lot parking.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Esquimalt

Continuing onto Island Highway just west of Helmcken is the View Royal Salvation Army which may be the best for collectibles and housewares in Victoria.  It has a lot of stock.  Lot parking.

Salvation Army - View Royal

Also out in View Royal in the mall off Admirals Road and Aldersmith Place (SW corner) is an SPCA though prices are pretty high.  Free lot parking.

Vancouver Island thrft store listings
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/listing-of.html

Welcome to the Non-profit Thrift Shops of British Columbia blog

Welcome to the Charitable Thrift Shops of British Columbia blog.  In our travels throughout B.C. over the past 3 1/2 years, we've made stops at thrift shops, priority given to those that are non-profit, operated by charities or at least operating for charities.  Operations that are primarily/solely for-profit are excluded.

I will review shops as they are visited (and revisited after a long absence), and will mention some others in selected areas visited in the past.

See the listings pages/post for listing of these shops throughout BC

For what we've found in kitchen wares, follow our other blog http://thriftstorekitchen.blogspot.ca

We also look for wine paraphernalia and our finding are written in http://thriftstoreoenophile.blogspot.ca/