Dedicated to giving back to the community, the Elk Valley Thrift Shop donated $32,000 for use throughout the community in the month of June.
Located in Sparwood, the Elk Valley Thrift Shop is a nonprofit, volunteer run second hand store that works tirelessly to fundraise for community groups in need, while encouraging the reuse and recycling of household items.
In June, the Elk Valley Thrift Shop donated $10,000 to Sparwood’s Frank J Mitchell Elementary School. The funds will be used for the construction of a new playground and play structures, accommodating for increased use of the outdoor facility.
The thrift shop also used $7,500 of funding to install a three tier water fountain in Sparwood’s Titan Park, in honour of the late Shane Lowe, a valued community member. The fountain, which was installed in partnership with the District of Sparwood, who assisted with the cost of the cement pad, is both pet and wheelchair accessible. An additional $2,500 was also used to purchase extra sod for the skate park
Not stopping there, the Elk Valley Thrift Shop donated a further $10,000 to the Elkford Housing Society to be put towards the construction of a new seniors housing complex.
In addition, the Elk Valley Thrift Shop split an extra $2,000 of June donations to three nonprofit groups, one in Fernie and two in Sparwood.
“These donations help with community support, because a lot of these groups cannot receive funding from other places,” said Katrin Taylor, manager of the Elk Valley Thrift Shop. “It’s not that easy to get funding, so in a lot of ways, this is one way for them to be able to access some much needed funding.”
All funds donated from the Elk Valley Thrift Shop are derived from community donations and product sales. Volunteers meet on a monthly basis to vote and allocate funds to organizations throughout the Elk Valley. Those requesting a donation are encouraged to fill out a request for donation form, found either online or in their shop. For more information, visit the Elk Valley Thrift Shop’s Facebook page.
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