Monday, August 17 was National Thrift Store Day. The Sooke Family Resources Society (SFRS) has announced that SFRS is embarking on a social enterprise venture – a new community thrift shop – in September.
The closing of the Salvation Army thrift store service in Sooke at the end of June 2015 was met with surprise and disappointment. Local print, social media and word-on-the-street was abuzz with comment about the loss of this resource for the community. With the needs of local families in mind, SFRS board members and staff explored the options for replacing this resource as an opportunity to develop a social enterprise.
The sfrs Community Thrift Shop will be an accessible and visible thrift shop located in the heart of the village “up Sooke” (location to be announced soon). We hope to recruit a team of volunteers, including local youth, active seniors, and passionate contributors in our community. The store will offer affordable good used clothing, linens, shoes, books and household items, good used brand name and work clothes for women and men, opportunities for volunteer experience and work training, as well as a place for residents to reuse, recycle and restore their good quality used stuff.
Most importantly, the sfrs Community Thrift Shop will provide a significant “multiplier effect” for our community. Any financial surplus generated in this new program will be reinvested in our community to support the current services of Sooke Family Resource Society (www.sfrs.ca).
Watch for more information on Facebook and contact thriftshop@sfrs.ca after August 20, 2015 if you would like to support this exciting new venture as a volunteer, or to donate your quality used items.
