The MCC (Mennonite Central Commitee) thrift shop on Fraser St @ 43rd Avenue has announced that it will close at the end of March (31 March 2022). No news if there will be a new location.
Showing posts with label mcc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mcc. Show all posts
Monday, 24 January 2022
Saturday, 8 October 2016
Powell River
It's been over 3 years since we were last there but there are two thrift shops in Powell River, conveniently adjacent to each other hidden in the SE corner of Joyce and Alberni (access on Quebec Avenue, if it is marked as such, off Alberni).
Our favorite of the two is the MCC shop which has good prices. Just north of it is the Health Care Auxilliary Economy Shop which seems to have more clothing. Both have good prices. Free lot parking.
As Powell River is a poorer community with limited shopping, these two shops are very popular and well-supported by the community.
Our favorite of the two is the MCC shop which has good prices. Just north of it is the Health Care Auxilliary Economy Shop which seems to have more clothing. Both have good prices. Free lot parking.
As Powell River is a poorer community with limited shopping, these two shops are very popular and well-supported by the community.
Monday, 19 September 2016
The Central Okanagan
The place where I realised that one can find good items at thrift shops and hence starting my affinity for reusing. With a larger population that apparently is into consumption, and also more affluent, one can find a good number of quality bargains here.
A home base of ours is Rutland which is almost a thrift shop destination with 4 charity shops and one semi (one of two SPCAs) when there were only 3 just a year or two ago. All within walking distance too.
On Rutland Road south of Highway 33 (at gray) are two shops. The first is the Salvation Army. Occupying a large space, it has a good selection of all items though not as well-stocked as in the past due to reorganisation. Prices can be somewhat high unless you happen upon a sale. Free lot and street parking.
Across the street is the new premises of the MCC (which formerly occupied where the Kelowna Mission's newly opened shop is). A large shop, it is well stocked (including furniture) and organised. Lots of collectibles come in. Free lot parking behind.
North of the highway on Roxby Road is the Kelowna Mission store, newly-opened since the MCC moved. Very well-organised, it has the usual assortment, including housewares, clothing and furniture at good prices. 30% off sale on Tuesdays. Free lot and street parking.
On Douglas also just north of the highway is the Rutland Hospital Auxiliary which has been operating for many years. Well-organised, it has the usual assortment of items (just no furniture). Reputedly the best priced place in town. I won't dispute that. Free street parking.
Just north in the barn formerly housing a sporting goods store is the newer SPCA thrift store. Rather spacious due to size, it has many items on 3 levels. A good assortment including collectibles of dubious quality at times. Worth a visit. Free lot and street parking.
Moving towards the main town on Enterprise Way and Cooper is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore housed in part of a huge warehouse. Though one would expect only home reno items (as we did, until we actually visited), it has in addition sporting goods, furniture, housewares and art among other unexpected items. Good prices and worth a visit. Free lot parking.
On the south side of Springfield just west of Spall is the local Bibles for Missions. A larger mid-sized store, it is densely-stocked with a good assortment of everything. Free lot parking.
On Sutherland Avenue at Birch (SE corner) is the Salvation Army boutique. Small, it stocks mainly clothing but has a small assortment of housewares. Free lot parking.
Heading west on Sutherland before Gordon and opposite from the mall is the Catholic Knights of Columbus Pro-Life shop. This shop has a lot of housewares and collectibles. Good prices. Free lot parking.
Downtown Kelowna has 4 thrift stores. On Ellis between Queensway and Doyle is the IODE shop. This one is tiny but has a dedicated volunteer all the time with clothes, housewares and collectibles. Never know what one finds. Paid street parking which is not easy to find.
Further north, on Gaston between Richter and St Paul is the Kelowna and District SHARE. A large shop with a good assortment of everything including furniture, clothing, collectibles and housewares, it assists people integrate into the community. Very good prices. Free lot and street parking though it can be difficult to park nearby.
On Industrial Way (in what seem to be a small driveway west off and off Ellis) is the Kelowna women's shelter thrift store. Small, it has clothing, collectibles and housewares. Good selection, decent prices. Free lot parking.
I haven't been to the First United Church's shop on Bernard and Richter yet due to it being closed in summer. In the old Tomato King barn on Casorso and Benvoulin opposite from the SPCA is the first SPCA thrift store. I haven't been here since it opened in its current form. Free lot parking.
Across the lake in West Bank and surrounds are three shops. The largest is the Salvation Army's shop on Old Okanagan Highway between Butt and Bering. In a large new building (it was moved from Main Street), it is well organised and has a good assortment of everything. O.K. prices. Free lot parking.
On Main Street at Bowen (just off Main) is the local United Church shop hidden in the basement. Usual church thrift items except furniture. Free lot parking.
Heading back towards Kelowna on Ross Road between Daimler and Bartley (just off the highway) is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. This one stocks mainly home reno items and has very limited housewares. Free lot parking.
There's a thrift store at the United Church in Peachland but I have yet to go there on an open day.
North of Kelowna in Winfield are two thrift shops. Just off and east of the highway on Berry is the local Food Bank shop (only one in B.C. that runs a non-food thrift shop). Limited opening days and hours. Small, it has a good selection of everything. Good prices. Free lot parking.
On Woodsdale by the old rail line is the United Church shop. Coffee seems to be the main topic of conversation among the staff. Small but well-organised, it has the usual selection of items at good prices. Check out the shed behind for odd items. Free lot parking.
A home base of ours is Rutland which is almost a thrift shop destination with 4 charity shops and one semi (one of two SPCAs) when there were only 3 just a year or two ago. All within walking distance too.
On Rutland Road south of Highway 33 (at gray) are two shops. The first is the Salvation Army. Occupying a large space, it has a good selection of all items though not as well-stocked as in the past due to reorganisation. Prices can be somewhat high unless you happen upon a sale. Free lot and street parking.
Across the street is the new premises of the MCC (which formerly occupied where the Kelowna Mission's newly opened shop is). A large shop, it is well stocked (including furniture) and organised. Lots of collectibles come in. Free lot parking behind.
North of the highway on Roxby Road is the Kelowna Mission store, newly-opened since the MCC moved. Very well-organised, it has the usual assortment, including housewares, clothing and furniture at good prices. 30% off sale on Tuesdays. Free lot and street parking.
On Douglas also just north of the highway is the Rutland Hospital Auxiliary which has been operating for many years. Well-organised, it has the usual assortment of items (just no furniture). Reputedly the best priced place in town. I won't dispute that. Free street parking.Just north in the barn formerly housing a sporting goods store is the newer SPCA thrift store. Rather spacious due to size, it has many items on 3 levels. A good assortment including collectibles of dubious quality at times. Worth a visit. Free lot and street parking.
Moving towards the main town on Enterprise Way and Cooper is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore housed in part of a huge warehouse. Though one would expect only home reno items (as we did, until we actually visited), it has in addition sporting goods, furniture, housewares and art among other unexpected items. Good prices and worth a visit. Free lot parking.
On the south side of Springfield just west of Spall is the local Bibles for Missions. A larger mid-sized store, it is densely-stocked with a good assortment of everything. Free lot parking.
On Sutherland Avenue at Birch (SE corner) is the Salvation Army boutique. Small, it stocks mainly clothing but has a small assortment of housewares. Free lot parking.
Heading west on Sutherland before Gordon and opposite from the mall is the Catholic Knights of Columbus Pro-Life shop. This shop has a lot of housewares and collectibles. Good prices. Free lot parking.
Downtown Kelowna has 4 thrift stores. On Ellis between Queensway and Doyle is the IODE shop. This one is tiny but has a dedicated volunteer all the time with clothes, housewares and collectibles. Never know what one finds. Paid street parking which is not easy to find.
Further north, on Gaston between Richter and St Paul is the Kelowna and District SHARE. A large shop with a good assortment of everything including furniture, clothing, collectibles and housewares, it assists people integrate into the community. Very good prices. Free lot and street parking though it can be difficult to park nearby.
On Industrial Way (in what seem to be a small driveway west off and off Ellis) is the Kelowna women's shelter thrift store. Small, it has clothing, collectibles and housewares. Good selection, decent prices. Free lot parking.I haven't been to the First United Church's shop on Bernard and Richter yet due to it being closed in summer. In the old Tomato King barn on Casorso and Benvoulin opposite from the SPCA is the first SPCA thrift store. I haven't been here since it opened in its current form. Free lot parking.
Across the lake in West Bank and surrounds are three shops. The largest is the Salvation Army's shop on Old Okanagan Highway between Butt and Bering. In a large new building (it was moved from Main Street), it is well organised and has a good assortment of everything. O.K. prices. Free lot parking.
On Main Street at Bowen (just off Main) is the local United Church shop hidden in the basement. Usual church thrift items except furniture. Free lot parking.Heading back towards Kelowna on Ross Road between Daimler and Bartley (just off the highway) is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. This one stocks mainly home reno items and has very limited housewares. Free lot parking.
There's a thrift store at the United Church in Peachland but I have yet to go there on an open day.
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| Lake Country Food Bank |
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| Winfield United Church |
Chilliwack and surrounds
Chilliwack is a town full of thrift stores, most with religious affiliation.
Working from north to south roughly along Yale Road, one finds:
On Yale and Williams is the Lions Den of the Chilliwack Lions - one of the few service organisation thrift stores. It's pretty much a jumble here but full of house wares if you are willing to look through the rather-dim and disorganised store. Good prices. Free street parking and lot parking in the back.
Between Fletcher and Nowell, opposite the post office is Ann's Treasures of the Ann Davis society (recovery/counselling for women). Mainly clothing, it also has some housewares. Decent prices and nicely organised. Free street parking. Around the corner on Nowell just before Princess is the 1st of two Bibles for Missions. Quite a few items in the larger mid-sized shop, mainly clothing but a fair amount of house wares and some furniture. Good prices. Free lot parking.
On Kipp Avenue between Mary and Main is the MCC store. Usual selection of goods, decent prices. Fairly well-organised. Free street parking.
Around the corner on Main between Kipp and Spadina, one finds shops of the local Hospital Auxilliary and United Church. Both are small. The HA store has the usual clothes and housewares. Well organised and good prices. The United Church is a bit less organised but seems to have more items. Good prices again. Free street parking.
On Mary between Hodgins and Bernard is Mother Theresa's Place of the local Catholic church. A bit dark but it has a good assortment of items at pretty decent prices. Free lot parking.
Back to Yale Road between Railway and Hocking (accesible only if headed north on Yale) is the Salvation Army shop. Medium size but a bit sad in organisation. Prices are o.k. as is selection Free lot parking. (April 2017 update: This store has closed due to property development. The local SA intends to reopen the store when new premises are found)
There's a 2nd shop of M2W2 that I have yet to visit.
South of the TC highway along Luckakuck Way are two shops. East of Vedder opposite the shopping mall is a Bibles for Missions which is medium size and nicely laid out. A good assortment of housewares, well organised. Good prices. free lot parking. On the other side past the Cottonwood Mall just west of Topaz is the local Hospice Society shop. Smaller but very well organised and laid out. Good prices. Free lot parking.
On the main and only street in Yarrow is probably the smallest MCC shop. Small in all terms, selection is limited reflecting community size. Lot parking behind or street parking out front.
List of Chilliwack and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html
Working from north to south roughly along Yale Road, one finds:
Between Fletcher and Nowell, opposite the post office is Ann's Treasures of the Ann Davis society (recovery/counselling for women). Mainly clothing, it also has some housewares. Decent prices and nicely organised. Free street parking. Around the corner on Nowell just before Princess is the 1st of two Bibles for Missions. Quite a few items in the larger mid-sized shop, mainly clothing but a fair amount of house wares and some furniture. Good prices. Free lot parking. |
| Bibles for Missions - Nowell Street |
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| Chilliwck United Church |
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| Chilliwack Hospital Auxiiary |
On Mary between Hodgins and Bernard is Mother Theresa's Place of the local Catholic church. A bit dark but it has a good assortment of items at pretty decent prices. Free lot parking.Back to Yale Road between Railway and Hocking (accesible only if headed north on Yale) is the Salvation Army shop. Medium size but a bit sad in organisation. Prices are o.k. as is selection Free lot parking. (April 2017 update: This store has closed due to property development. The local SA intends to reopen the store when new premises are found)
There's a 2nd shop of M2W2 that I have yet to visit.
South of the TC highway along Luckakuck Way are two shops. East of Vedder opposite the shopping mall is a Bibles for Missions which is medium size and nicely laid out. A good assortment of housewares, well organised. Good prices. free lot parking. On the other side past the Cottonwood Mall just west of Topaz is the local Hospice Society shop. Smaller but very well organised and laid out. Good prices. Free lot parking.
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| Chilliwack Hospice |
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| Bibles for Missions - Luckakuck Way |
On the main and only street in Yarrow is probably the smallest MCC shop. Small in all terms, selection is limited reflecting community size. Lot parking behind or street parking out front.
List of Chilliwack and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html
Abbotsford
Abbotsford is home to several thrift shops, most with religious affiliation. It's homely here so lots of housewares and a good selection of everything. Working from west to east, one first finds
Life's Second Chance which assists those with severe addictions (drugs). Located on the south side of Fraser Way just north/east of the TC highway (can't get off/on the highway here). Medium-large shop with a good assortment of everything. Decent prices. Free lot parking.
Less than 1 Km east on Fraser Way @ Countess is the original MCC thrift shop. This one gets lots of contributions and has a good selection of everything. Very good prices in general. Across the street is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore which, like Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island stores, mainly have home reno wares. Both have free lot parking. Ample is the case of the ReStore.
On the east side of town straddling the rail track are 4 thrift stores. The smallest and most obscure is Hidden Treasures, operated by M2W2 which offers one-to-one peer counselling and support to prisoners ready for release and want to be rehabilitated. Small store with a good assortment. Free lot parking. Located on West Railway @ George Ferguson
There's Abbotsford Bibles for Missions on south on West Railway (opposite the tracks from the 2nd MCC and Salvation Army) which is affiliated but not grouped with the others in B.C. Well-organised store, prices not as good as others but decent. They price stuff that is good at a decent but not bargain price. Free lot parking.
Across the tracks on Gladys Avenue is the 2nd MCC store which occupies a huge premise - probably the largest of any thrift store in B.C. along with a Ten Thousand Villages outlet, quilting workshop and a casual restaurant - all MCC activities, and the MCC's HQ offices in BC. It is spaciously laid out so not as densely stocked as one would expect. Prices are good but again, not a bargain. The volunteers search for prices on auction/resale sites and offer it at 1/3rd the going/asking rate. Lots of free lot parking.
A bit further south is the Salvation Army store. Housed in the basement of a SA housing/shelter building, it is a bit dark. Medium sized, prices not so good and selection is o.k. Free lot parking.
There's a small thrift store which I will report on when visited.
(Update April 2017: There were actually two - Healing Grounds an Missions without Borders but the former has since been closed and the latter sold to a private operator)
List of Abbotsford and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html
Life's Second Chance which assists those with severe addictions (drugs). Located on the south side of Fraser Way just north/east of the TC highway (can't get off/on the highway here). Medium-large shop with a good assortment of everything. Decent prices. Free lot parking.
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| MCC Clothing Etc. |
On the east side of town straddling the rail track are 4 thrift stores. The smallest and most obscure is Hidden Treasures, operated by M2W2 which offers one-to-one peer counselling and support to prisoners ready for release and want to be rehabilitated. Small store with a good assortment. Free lot parking. Located on West Railway @ George Ferguson
There's Abbotsford Bibles for Missions on south on West Railway (opposite the tracks from the 2nd MCC and Salvation Army) which is affiliated but not grouped with the others in B.C. Well-organised store, prices not as good as others but decent. They price stuff that is good at a decent but not bargain price. Free lot parking. |
| MCC Centre |
A bit further south is the Salvation Army store. Housed in the basement of a SA housing/shelter building, it is a bit dark. Medium sized, prices not so good and selection is o.k. Free lot parking. There's a small thrift store which I will report on when visited.
(Update April 2017: There were actually two - Healing Grounds an Missions without Borders but the former has since been closed and the latter sold to a private operator)
List of Abbotsford and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
West Surrey
Decided to wander over the Pattulo bridge to the west side of Surrey, some place I have generally avoided due to traffic. Remarkably there wasn't much traffic going south (more gong north) despite being down to one lane in ether direction.
First stop was the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) shop on the west side of King George at
around 107/106A Avenues (no cross street). The shop is large and well organised by its volunteers. Unfortunately premises must be rented as prices for the most part are pretty high - much higher than other MCC shops in B.C. Free parking in the lot out front.
Continuing down KGH to 72nd Avenue (in Newton Crossing SE corner of the intersection), we came to Delta Hospice/Firefighters community thrift shop. It's a smaller shop with the usual variety of goods. O.K. prices but nothing caught our eye. Free lot parking.
The Salvation Army's Newton shop is close by at 138th Street (behind the Safeway) tucked in a nearly-hidden corner of the mall. Professionally run, the displays are organised quite well though the toy sections seem to be a disaster with children playing everything. Not much restock since a week ago and prices are generally higher. Lots of free mall parking.
There is a tiny thrift shop, God's Love, on the other side of 72nd Avenue on 137th Street (between 72 and 74) which supports the Delta Hospital. Small and not much. Didn't check on prices. Free street parking.
On to what is considered North Delta is the Salvation Army shop at 120th St and 80 Ave (NE corner). Large and again professionally-organised. Prices are a bit high but not bad. Mall parking. Usual assortment of stuff but lots of housewares.
Heading north to escape over the Alex Fraser, we came across a small thrift shop on the east side of 120th around 84 Avenue. Small and seems to be expensive. Private, I imagine, but it claims to support a charity (forgot which one).
Much further up around/between 94th and 95A Aves are supposed to be a couple of thrift stores, one of which stocks items for/from the East Indian community.
At 120th St/Nordel Way a.k.a. 88th Avenue is the first BC branch of a Canadian for-profit thrift store that supports Childrens Aid (claimed to have given $13m in the past ~10 years) called Talize. It's like a Winners Very large and has a fair amount of stuff, well-organised and staffed by paid employees. Prices seem to be high but reasonable on some items. Lots of stuff is bundled so you can't pick and choose.
First stop was the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) shop on the west side of King George at around 107/106A Avenues (no cross street). The shop is large and well organised by its volunteers. Unfortunately premises must be rented as prices for the most part are pretty high - much higher than other MCC shops in B.C. Free parking in the lot out front.
The Salvation Army's Newton shop is close by at 138th Street (behind the Safeway) tucked in a nearly-hidden corner of the mall. Professionally run, the displays are organised quite well though the toy sections seem to be a disaster with children playing everything. Not much restock since a week ago and prices are generally higher. Lots of free mall parking.
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| God's Love |
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| Salvation Army - North Delta |
Heading north to escape over the Alex Fraser, we came across a small thrift shop on the east side of 120th around 84 Avenue. Small and seems to be expensive. Private, I imagine, but it claims to support a charity (forgot which one).
Much further up around/between 94th and 95A Aves are supposed to be a couple of thrift stores, one of which stocks items for/from the East Indian community.
At 120th St/Nordel Way a.k.a. 88th Avenue is the first BC branch of a Canadian for-profit thrift store that supports Childrens Aid (claimed to have given $13m in the past ~10 years) called Talize. It's like a Winners Very large and has a fair amount of stuff, well-organised and staffed by paid employees. Prices seem to be high but reasonable on some items. Lots of stuff is bundled so you can't pick and choose.
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