Why thrift still thrives

From Christian Week

And if it weren't for faith-based thrift stores, those second-hand shops run by various Christian ministries and scattered from one end of Canada to another, a lot of ministry in this country-and beyond-just wouldn't happen.

The words “faith-based thrift store” usually call to mind the ubiquitous “Sally-Annes” (Salvation Army Thrift Stores) across Canada. The Salvation Army's National Recycling operation runs between 120 and 130 thrift stores in urban centres, and local Salvation Army offices operate another 220 smaller stores. For more than 100 years these stores have been raising funds for the Christian charity that is today the largest non-governmental provider of social services in Canada.

Diane Van der Horden is director of public relations for The Salvation Army, Maritime Division. When discussing the role of the thrift store, she uses the term “national recycling operation.”
Nowadays, that is an essential part of the identity of the thrift store for The Salvation Army. Yes, the stores raise millions of dollars for Salvation Army projects, but their website, materials and spokespeople also focus on the environmental impact those stores have by saving vases, bicycles, trombones, clothes-you name it-from landfill sites.

“The Salvation Army may have been one of the agencies involved with recycling before it became one of the buzzwords of our culture,” says Diane. “The revenue is important, absolutely essential actually, but also the leadership The Salvation Army plays in diverting things from landfills. Local municipalities are amazed at the volume that The Salvation Army diverts.” Nationally run stores alone rescue more than 50 million lbs of merchandise from disposal each year.

The Salvation Army has also gotten savvy at marketing. You can now buy gift cards for shopping at their stores. They also sell on EBay. Thrift store shopping has gone mainstream, which is good for business-and great for ministry.

While there are two Salvation Army Thrift Stores in Saskatoon, we have the Clothes Cave and the Dock inside the Centre.  They provide free clothes, furniture, and goods to people in need all across the city.  For more information on when they are open or if you have goods to donate, contact the Centre.

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