News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes 

The new Salvation Army Thrift Store had a grand opening this morning, with shoppers lining the aisles to enjoy the spacious, well-organized shop.

Salvation Army Claudine Kadonaga said that the store is double the size of the old one. “The new store is 7,000 square feet, with some space dedicated to receiving, sorting and storage in the back,” she explained. “There is a mezzanine for storing out-of-season clothing, making the day-to-day store operation much more efficient.” 

(Photo:  Captain Randy Kadonaga joins staff and volunteers at the new Salvation Army Thrift Store, which opened its doors this morning in the old Lucky’s Bingo Hall.  From left to right are Captain Randy Kadonaga, store employee Anita Chenier, Paul Duffy volunteer, employee Natalie Desnoyers, Angela Abe and Karen Wells.)

Two tills were running full time this morning, and as fast as items went out the door, more were brought in to fill the shelves. 

She explained that Fabricland is moving to the old store location on Third Avenue. “This new location is very convenient for Salvation Army supporters, volunteers and clients alike---right across the road from the main building,” she said.    

She added that other changes are on the way, including moving the church across the street to share the building with the new thrift store. “Stage one was to open the new store and stage two will be to move the church into its own space,” she continued. “The whole upstairs will become Family Services, including the Food Bank and meal programs, and the dining room will be twice the size it is now.” 

The downstairs will be program rooms and the drop-in centre, allowing more space and variety for the clients, according to Claudine. 

“This is going to make it so much easier to deliver our services and our programs---it will be far better for our food bank volunteers not to have to haul all the heavy boxes up and down the stairs. The store operation will be easier for our volunteers, too. Our recycle program, for example, will be much more efficient,” she continued. 

“Our recycle program involves clothing that we can’t sell here in the store, but is still usable. Last year 58 tonnes went to Vancouver. At the old store, every one of those bags had to be carried from where we were sorting, put into buggies, taken to the other end of the parking lot and heaved into the truck,” she said.  “Now we can take them out, directly from the sorting table.” 

For more information about the new Salvation Army Thrift Store, including store hours and where to drop off donated item, go to 267B Borland Street. Take the time to check out the spring bargains: clothing for all ages, baby accessories, books, toys, jewelry, house wares, furniture and more.

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