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

Hospice thrift shops

We all have to die and the various hospice organisations raise money through thrift shops.  The ones that do are

Vancouver (3 HOBs on the West Side)
Delta (in Tsawwassen)
White Rock-South Surrey
Langley
Chilliwack
Maple Ridge
Coquitlam (Crossroads)
Burnaby
Nanaimo (2 shops)
Campbell River
Kamloops

Surrey's Hospice operates its thrift shop in co-operation with the city's fire fighters

Peachland

In the lakefront town of Peachland between Kelowna and Penticton is the Peachland United Church thrift shop.  Located in the basement of the church on 4th, it is only open a few days a week.  Small in size and run by volunteers, it mostly has clothes, with some collectibles and housewares.  Good prices.  Free street parking.

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.

Vernon (again)

Back in the north/central Okanagan and visited a couple of "new" thrift stores, one I didn't think of visiting and one I surprisingly hadn't known about.

On 31st Avenue at 31st Street is the Vernon Pro-Life Society thrift shop.  Not religious unlike the one in Kelowna (Catholic), it is a usual small thrift shop except no furniture.  Paid street parking seems to be the rule here.

At the north en of town on 24th Street at 55th Avenue is the newer store of the Salvation Army.  This medium-sized one is set in a warehouse/commercial space so is quite airy unlike the old shop in downtown Vernon (which has been rearranged).  Prices on some items can be quite high (again, unlike the old shop though they are in the same division of the SA).  Free lot parking.

Langley and Chilliwack, and Kelowna until 22 October

Appointment timing gave us an opportunity to wander through the Fraser Valley last week.  Started at Cloverdale and worked our way to Chilliwack.

Three new thrift shops to list though we only visited two, and the demise of one of these is imminent.

The new one is the Thrift Barn of the Horse Protection charity where 222nd and 224th Streets meet in Langley SE of the city.  Didn't as it is only open Thursdays to Saturdays.  Lot parking.

Heading to Chilliwack on Airport Road between Yale and Young is another Hidden Treasures shop of the M2W2 prisoner peer counselling society.  This shop took over an existing private one. All the various items except furniture.  Lot parking.

We've long known about a SPCA thrift shop in Kelowna but don't head out its way anymore but made a special visit to this branch at Casorso and Benvoulin directly opposite from the SPCA. This store is in the ALR and was a produce stand called the Tomato King before it became among other things including an Asian crafts import store.  It became a thrift store some 4 years ago but was ordered to close recently as it was solely involved in non-agriculture activities which is not allowed on ALR land.  Last day was 22 October.  Great as they had a 50% off sale and we got a good haul.  SPCA store sales will be concentrated at the remaining store in Rutland which is good for us.

 

Why not Value Village?

It would seem that the first name that comes to mind of thrift shoppers is Value Village.  I don't mention this organisation for one reason: They are a deceitful outfit run as a for-profit.

One would think, with association of various charities, that Value Village is a charity.

Far from it.  Value Village, through it's U.S.-based parents Savers, Inc.  is owned by U.S.-based private equity funds (can you say "1%er"?)

As a private company, its charitable donations don't have to be disclosed.  From what journalists have been able to discern from employees, it is only in the piddling thousands.  It's primary mission is to make money for its investors, not to make charitable donations.  The only way charities seem to benefit is to sell their collections to the various Savers outlets who pay a pittance per pound, and this appears to exclude heavy items such as furniture.

Savers has been fined by the Minnesota Attorney General for misleading the public over its charitable intent (or lack thereof) and also had to be cajoled by the Washington Attorney General to provide information (it provides the bare minimum information after not providing anything for a quarter century).  What little information they do provide is hidden behind a veil of obfuscation.

The Boston-area Big Brothers dropped its partnership with Savers and found that by operating its own stores (even with associated expenses), it increased its income from donations by 3-4x.  Reportedly over 6 of the charities that have worked with Savers have dropped the partnership.

By giving your donations to Value Village, you're providing free inventory to Savers, Inc.  Talk about entitlement.

Please give your donations to a real charity.

See:

 http://invw.org/2015/10/28/the-thrift-store-chain-that-dressed-up-like-a-charity-and-got-sued/

Of course, all the profits have spawned imitators.  A home-grown version called Talize, based in Ontario, has just opened a store in Delta

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.

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

Auction

A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing through some local resale website and chanced upon a posting by the Salvation Army in Nanaimo.  The two stores hold auctions every couple of weeks and people go bid on them.  By chance, I saw a coffee pot in a pattern that my wife started on just a few weeks ago, spurred on by a stack of plates for $1 (1/2 price) at the New West hospital auxiliary store.  This pattern is rare as we've only seen a few pieces in visits to dozens of thrift stores in the past few weeks.

So we made  a bid on a trip to Nanaimo and went it to buy it today (no one else bid on it).  Interesting system as they're trying to eliminate false bids and other rigging systems.  You need an ID slip these days!

Beautiful item 114 - Scraffito by Meakin

Stopped at the Ladysmith freestore on the way back but it was bare....

A few "new" ones in Duncan, Parksville and Nanaimo.

Visited a few thrift shops that I've known about but openings times haven't coincided with our visits.

West of Duncan on Gibbins Road - a few hundred meters past the hospital - is Duncan Seventh Day Adventist church's thrift shop.  This one is hard to visit as it is rarely open, just Thursdays and 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month from 11-15.  It is run by volunteers, small but well organised has interesting items at very good prices.  Lots of lot parking.  Proceeds go to local and international aid.

In the old part of Nanaimo on Fitzwilliam Street at Wallace is the St. Andrew's United Church shop. Located in the basement, it also volunteer-run.  Small.  Free lot parking.  Only open M, W, Th 0930-13.



On the south end of Parksville on the old highway, at the strip mall just north of the 1st set of traffic lights is the Second Chance thrift shop where proceeds go to assist rehabilitation and community  reintegration of people with brain injuries. Lots of nice collectibles here as they have partnered with a estate sale/clearance business.  Very good prices for china sets.  Free lot parking.  Only open W-Sa.

North and Central Saanich

The North Saanich area has thrift shops clustered in Sidney and Brentwood Bay.  There are a couple of church shops spread around.

Near the north end at West Saanich Road (@ Clayton) is St John's United Church.  The thrift shop is housed in a trailer so it's small but it does have nice items.  Very reasonable prices.  Lot parking.

The Sidney area houses over a half dozen shops, all between Beacon and Bevan avenues and spread between 2nd and 4th streets s very walkable. 3 are branches of Beacon Community Services and are divided into 3 shops.  The 4th Avenue shop houses the furniture shop.  On 3rd Avenue, adjacent to each other is the housewares shop and a clothes and other goods shop.   Across 3rd from these two is an SPCA shop.  Prices are quite high though.  On 2nd Avenue is a Saint Vincent de Paul.  Haven't found much of interest personally here.  There's a pet rescue thrift shop across the street and an adjacent private one.

Free street and off-street parking though it gets busy.

Down in Brentwood Bay are spread 3 along West Saanich Road, all within 6-7 minute walk of each other.  At the north end just south of Verdier is a Salvation Army shop.   Small, a bit picked over and not much of interest to us.  Prices high as per SAs in the area.  Lot and street parking.

North of the NE corner of Wallace is a Beacon Community Services shop that specialises in clothes.  The houseware shops is further south on the other side of W Saanich before Le Bure Place.  It's also small but may have housewares of interest.  Free lot parking.

Heading back to the highway on Keating Cross Road, one finds a Saint Vincent de Paul, a new branch to replace the closed one on Quadra in south Saanich (we found it but not sure if it is being renovated or converted into something else).  It's small, and seemingly poor so not much of interest.  free lot parking.

On special days, Saint Mary's Anglican church in Saanichton (Cultra west of E Saanich Road) has a parish sale in late September.  We'll miss it but it's there.

Langford and Sooke

In the western suburbs of Victoria are 6 thrift stores - 4 in Langford and 2 in Sooke.

 The three normal thrift stores are located along Goldstream Avenue at Bryn Maur/Claude, well within walking distance of each other. Just off Goldstream on Claude is the Saint Vincent de Paul.  It's a small shop with the usual assortment, with good prices.  Street and lot parking.

On the other side of Goldstream in the back of a parking lot mall is the Salvation Army.  Moderate size, it has the usual SA items. Prices a bit high but there are always bargains.  Free lot parking.

Off in the back of the fancier mall a little bit east (other side of Bryn Maur) is the WIN thrift store.  It's a small boutique with very nice things.  Not much selection but what there is is nice.  Good prices. Lot parking.

There's a small Habitat for Humanity ReStore hidden on Orono at Van Isle.  It's a small store with mainly home reno items, as expected, but also a small assortment of housewares. Lot parking.

The small community of Sooke is surprisingly large (lots of schools) and can support 2 thrift stores.  When we were last there, there was a Salvation Army and a Saint Vincent de Paul.  The SA closed as a result of cost but the community quickly rallied and opened a community thrift shop acorss the road, and even closer to the remaining Saint Vincent de Paul both on West Coast Road.

The Sooke Community store is on the south side of West Coast Road just west of Otter Point/Murray Road (the only traffic light in the village centre).  It's small but still has a nice variety of wares.  Good prices. Free limited lot parking.

A bit further down on the other side of the street west of Shields is the Saint Vincent de Paul.  In an office building of some sort, it is also small and has a variety of wares which seem to reflect a poorer pool of donours.  Limited lot parking.

Cowichan

The Cowichan valley, which I will define as Mill Bay to Ladysmith, hosts a fair number of thrift stores.

Beginning in the south at Mill Bay, there is the Salvation Army store on the Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Road just west of the TC highway.  It's a small store with the usual assortment.  Free lot parking.  Part of the lower mainland and Victoria division, it participates in the promotions of this division.

On Cobble Hill Road near Lovers Lane//Chapman Road if the Hand-in-Hand store of St John the Baptist Anglican Church.  This store is open only on a Friday between 10 and 14h.  Selection is limited to a few collectibles and clothes.  Everything appears to be saved for a Saturday in September (either the 3rd or closest to the middle of the month.  Some special event locally as a lot of thrift stores have sales on this date) when a lot of inventory is brought out for sale.  A lot of nice items at good, marked prices.

Next stop is Duncan which hosts 7 stores.

Right on the highway (east side) are two stores.  At Trunk Road is the Salvation Army while a couple of blocks further north is the Bibles for Missions at Alexander Street. The Salvation Army is a small store with o.k. prices.  Small selection of everything though quality seems to reflect the relatively-poorer area.  The Bibles for Missions is one of the smaller ones and just doesn't have too much.  Seems to be focussed mainly on clothes but has some collectibles and housewares.  O.K. prices but higher than other BFMs in B.C. Both have free lot parking while the BFM also has free street parking.

In the downtown area of Duncan are 5 stores.

On Station Street between Canada Avenue and Craig Street is the local Hospital Auxiliary.  This well-displayed store is small but has a good amount of collectibles, clothes and housewares.  Free street parking though it can be limited.

At the end of Station Street (junction with Government and Jubilee) s is WINGS III which is a abused/battered women's charity.  This small store is more of a boutique with fairly nice quality items and has higher prices.

On Kenneth Street is the Duncan Lions store.  This small store is nicely organised with lots of collectibles, clothes, housewares and furniture.  Prices are very good.  Free street parking.

The local United Church is open on Fridays.  The store is small with the usual clothes, children's ware and collectibles.  Only a small amount of inventory is on show while the rest is saved for the September sale.  Good prices.  Lot parking.

On Canada Avenue (between 1st and 2nd avenues) is the Cowichan Family Life store.  Good amount of collectibles, clothes and housewares.  Prices are o.k.  Lot parking.

Out on is the Seventh Day Adventist on Gibbins Road though the opening hours are not advertised. Will advice when I find it open. Lot parking.

Couple of small, private thrift stores too, one just north of the Bibles for Missions and another across the road from WINGS III.

Kamloops

A large but less affluent than Kelowna, Kamloops supports a far number of thrift stores.

Starting up far north in the Westsyde (Westsyde Road at Mayne) is the Westsyde Fellowship Church shop, only open on a Friday 9-13h.  It's a small shop on the top floor of the church complex with mainly clothes but some housewares, games and hardware.  Reasonable prices but we've seen nothing of interest. Lots of free lot parking.

In the shopping mall complex on Tranquille Road and Desmond is Flutter Buys of the local Hospice.  It has moved to the central building in the complex (facing Tranquille).  Lots of the usual items.  Free lot parking.

Back along Tranquille towards the bridge at Yew is the local Salvation Army.  A medium-sized shop, it has the usual assortment except furniture.  Quite a large housewares section.  Free street parking.

A bit further down on a side street, Briar Avenue between Palm and Wilson is the local Saint Vincent de Paul.  It is a smaller shop with the usual assortment at good prices.  Free lot parking.

Downtown Kamloops has at least 3 thrift shops.

On Victoria between 1st and 2nd avenues is the Thrift Seller shop of the local Hospital Auxilliary.  This medium-sized sho is well-organised and has everything except furniture.  Good prices.  Paid street parking.

On Seymour between 3rd and 4th avenues is Thrift City of New Life Mission.  This larger medium-sized shop has something of everything.  Good prices.  Paid street parking.

On Saint Paul between 4th and 5th avenues is the United Church's thrift shop which has moved into new premises around the corner from the old one on 4th Avenue. This small shop has the usual except furniture.  Paid street parking.

Reports of a Big Brothers Big Sisters on Seymour between 8th and 9th.

Up the hill on Cariboo Place between Hillside Drive and Laval Crescent is the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. In addition to home reno wares, this outlet has a lot of housewares and collectibles.  Free lot and street parking.

The SPCA is supposed to have one but I haven't been able to locate it.

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.

Lake Country Food Bank

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.

Winfield United Church

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.

Shuswap

For now, limited to Salmon Arm and Sicamous.

In Sicamous at the junction of the two major highways (SE side) is the local United Church's thrift store (haven't been this year but it's still supposed to be there). Small, it has a small assortmet reflecting the community size.  Free lot parking.

There is reputedly a thrift (or two) store in Chase but I have never been able to find it.

Salmon Arm is where the action is.

In the old town on Hudson Avenue between Ross and 4th is a Canadian Mental Health store.  Very well-organised, it has clothing more than anything else.  A few other items.  Decent prices.  Paid street parking and some free a bit further away.

On Lakeshore Drive near 10th (between the highway and rail track) is the 2nd Kindale store (1st in Enderby and newest in Vernon).  Mainly clothing with some housewares and a decent assortment of collectibles.  Prices for some items can be high. Free lot parking.

On Beatty and Narcisse between these two shops is probably the most interesting one in B.C., the Churches of Salmon Arm shop, which as the name implies, is the collective shop for most of the churches (over a dozen) in town.  There's a clothing section, a housewares and other section, a collectibles and fine wares section, a fine clothing section upstairs and furniture and sporting goods and other wettable stuff outside.  It gets lot of donations and is very popular with the locals.  Very good prices (can depend on who checks you out but you always get a bargain especially on bag sale day  -- Th-Sa about 3rd Saturday of the month -- where you can get all you can put into a plastic grocery bag for $2.  Free lot and street parking.

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.

MCC Clothing Etc.

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.

MCC Centre

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