Impact Report 2023-2024

CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
AND THE PLANET WE SHARE

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All items pictured in this year’s Impact Report were thrifted from The Salvation Army Thrift Store.

Keep reading to learn about your impact in action or download the Impact Report as a PDF. 

QUICK LINKS:

1. A Message from our Managing Director

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2. Who We Are

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3. Equity, Diversity, Justice & Inclusion

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4. Your Community Support in Action

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5. Your Support for our Planet in Action

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6. Partnerships

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR

Welcome to our 2023-2024 Impact Report, where we celebrate the profound impact of our Thrift Store operations within our shared communities across Canada. More than just retail spaces, our stores are an integral part of our mission to serve and uplift our communities, while helping preserve our planet through retail and reuse.

This year’s report is a testament to the collective efforts of our
employees, guests, donors, and community partners. Together,
we’ve achieved remarkable social and environmental milestones, from diverting over 94 million pounds of goods from landfills to raising $865,997 with the support of our guests and donors to provide additional support to the work of The Salvation Army nationwide.

While this report primarily reflects our accomplishments of the last fiscal year, it also provides a glimpse into the progress we’ve made toward our forthcoming strategic plan, set to launch this year. We’ve been diligently laying the groundwork for a comprehensive 5-year organizational strategic plan which pillars: People, Donations, and Sales. These pillars are the foundation of our success and will guide us in maximizing our impact, driving growth, and ensuring sustainability across all aspects of our operations.

As we look to the future and prioritize the well-being of our people, we are also pleased to announce our partnership with Empowered EDI. Together, we are crafting a multi-year plan aimed at fostering an inclusive culture within our organization where every individual feels valued, respected, and included.

I extend my deepest gratitude to our incredible employees, volunteers, and Thrift Store community. Their unwavering dedication has been instrumental in our shared accomplishments, and their ongoing support propels us toward a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

May God bless you,

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Ted Troughton, Managing Director

The Salvation Army Thrift Store, National Recycling Operations

WHO
WE
ARE

WHO WE ARE

The Salvation Army Thrift Store National Recycling Operations (NRO) is part of one of the largest national charities in Canada. Through

3 MILLION VISITS FOR ASSISTANCE

last fiscal year, The Salvation Army Thrift Store provides hope and support across the country.

We are the only national division within The Salvation Army, as well as one of Canada’s largest textile collectors and a leader in textile diversion in the charitable sector. Through our Thrift Stores we offer savings on gently used clothing, textiles, and household items while supporting Salvation Army programs, services, and emergency relief efforts.

95 Thrift Stores

113 Donor Welcome Centres

11 Distribution & Recycling Centres

1,900+ Employees

6 Regional Offices

13.3M Guests & Donors

60+ Partnerships

Locations of Thrift Store on a map of Canada.

MISSION

Our role, within the context of The Salvation Army, is both to generate funds to help The Salvation Army achieve its mission, and to have a positive influence in our communities.

VISION

By operating successful Thrift Stores and integrating with the mission and work of The Salvation Army as a whole, we exist as a functioning and thriving modern day model of William Booth’s “Household Salvage Brigade” through which the marginalized and excluded of society are refreshed and regenerated by meeting their practical needs.

OUR CORE VALUES

Hope

We give hope through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Service

We reach out to support others without discrimination.

Dignity

We respect and value each other, recognizing everyone’s worth.

Stewardship

We responsibly manage the resources entrusted to us.

Gratitude in Action

At the core of our mission lies the generosity of our donors. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who generously hosted donation drives or donated pre-loved items to their local Thrift Store in the past fiscal year. Their unwavering support fuels our mission, and we are profoundly grateful for their ongoing dedication.

Let their stories inspire you to join our community of generous donors!

A Family's Giving Spirit

Andrew’s commitment to making a difference to his local community and to the environment led his family to take on a challenge where they collected 500 items from their home that were no longer being used. Their generous act resulted in several boxes filled with donations that found new purpose through our Salvation Army Thrift Store in Guelph, Ontario.

"I feel better knowing that my donations will be useful here as opposed to just going to the landfill."

Andrew

Tea, Tradition, and Generosity

The Salvation Army Lavender Ladies Tea Party is a remarkable event that’s been steeping for nearly two decades in Gormley, Ontario.

These wonderful ladies collected and organized donations for The Salvation Army Thrift Store to make a difference for our local communities.

"We had 53 ladies attend and we filled two large Salvation Army trucks."

Ristina

Community Partnership that Makes a Difference

At The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Newmarket, Ontario, we embrace every opportunity to partner with our local communities. Last year, we joined the Ward 1 Recycle Event. 

“The Salvation Army is such a vital part of our community, our country and worldwide. You’re our first go-to to participate with us, knowing that the items are going to serve the right needs."

Councilor Grace Simon

Our Commitment to Fostering Safe and Inclusive Spaces

As we reflect on the past year, we are proud to share the progress we’ve made in our commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and included, while serving our communities and fulfilling our mission.

We remain focused on internal education and providing our staff with the tools and resources needed to embrace diversity and champion inclusivity. Over the past year, we have continued to prioritize education through workshops, training sessions, and resources aimed at raising awareness and promoting understanding.

We are also proud to partner with Empowered EDI who is a leading organization in Canada and is dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. With their support, we are developing a multi-year plan to enhance our efforts to foster a culture of inclusion that extends not only within our organization but throughout our shared communities.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the progress we will continue to make in our journey. With your continued support and partnership, we remain committed to championing diversity, inclusion, and belonging within The Salvation Army Thrift Store and beyond.

YOUR COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
IN ACTION

YOUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN ACTION

By shopping and donating at The Salvation Army Thrift Store, your impact is limitless. From helping to support programs and services in your community, such as food banks, school programs and camps, shelters for people experiencing homelessness, addictions and rehabilitation programs, and work preventing modern slavery and human trafficking, every purchase and every donation is making a positive impact on individuals and families in communities across Canada.

$865,997

$865,997

to provide additional support to the work of The Salvation Army through the generosity of our Guests in our stores from coast to coast.

That includes:

$343,939

Kettle Campaign

$140,980

Emergency Disaster and Local Community Support

$191,658

Send a Kid to Camp
Campaign

$106,455

Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Campaign

$82,965

Brighter Days Campaign

Provided 6,638 vouchers to neighbours in need who shopped at our Thrift Stores free of charge at a value of $692,018.

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THE SALVATION ARMY IN CANADA

The Salvation Army gives hope and dignity to vulnerable people today and everyday in over 400 communities across Canada and in 133 countries around the world. The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs, and be a transforming influence in the communities of the world.

Last year, over 3 million visits were made to The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda for assistance.

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2.1 million visits for food, clothing, or practical assistance

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3.2 million community meals were distributed

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438,000 visits for Christmas assistance including food hampers and toys

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6,632 children helped through the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program

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5,500 shelter, addictions, detox and mental health beds provided

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69,000+ meals served when disaster struck

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98 individuals removed from human trafficking situations

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3,000 children and teens attended Salvation Army camps

YOUR SUPPORT
FOR OUR PLANET
IN ACTION

YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR PLANET IN ACTION

By shopping and donating at The Salvation Army Thrift Store, you are making a direct impact on our environment by helping to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

We strive to extend the lifecycle of donated items through our stores, Distribution & Recycling Centres (DRCs), and partners to support our environment most effectively and share the benefit of thrift for all.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

Through all our channels, we are striving to make secondhand the first choice in our communities by encouraging reuse and recycling through donating and shopping thrift. In addition, we’re constantly seeking ways to increase efficiency and implement innovative methods that can extend the lifecycle of usable goods.

95%

of all donated goods are empowered to make a tangible impact.

Less than 5% of all textiles donated to us make their way to landfill, meaning that the vast majority of donations–95%–contribute to making a local impact through our Thrift Stores across the country via our ethical recycling suppliers.

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A Better Lifecycle for Donations

DONATE

New and gently used donations that we receive from our generous donors
and corporate partners.

REUSE

Donated items are reused by shopping thrift. Vouchers are given to individuals in need to shop at no cost to them.

RECYCLE

Every year, millions of pounds are diverted from local landfills.
Unsaleable items are recycled with our eco-friendly partners.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES

Every purchase and every donation is making a positive impact on individuals and families in communities across Canada.

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94,032,978 lbs

diverted from local landfills

Our total diversion numbers include:

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42,388,239 lbs of clothing & textiles

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24,536,545 lbs of household items

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14,618,410 lbs of electronic & metal

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12,489,783 lbs of books, paper & pulp

Through this diversion1:
factory pollution

953,295

tonnes of carbon emissions displaced

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157,816

kilolitres of water saved
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43,784,541

trees planted
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207,238

cars removed from road

Our Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

• Handled over 55 million items across our store teams, diverting waste from landfills and extending the lifespan of resources like water, energy, and raw materials.

• Launched a Reusable Bag Library program, encouraging guests to donate or take a bag for free during their visits. This initiative maximizes bag reuse, giving them a second life and preventing landfill waste.

• Continued a multi-year conversion of all facilities to reusable metal hangers, reducing plastic waste and advancing sustainability efforts throughout our operations.

• Further advanced our commitment to energy reduction by equipping new stores, warehouses, and offices with LED lightbulbs, and updating existing properties where possible.

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Small Actions, Big Impact

In our commitment to sustainability, we eliminated single-use plastic bags at checkout in 2022 and launched a Reusable Bag Library last year. Guests are encouraged to donate reusable bags or take a free one during their visit, maximizing reuse and preventing bags from ending up in landfills.

This initiative aligns with our mission to care for our communities and the planet we share.

“I like to remind people that every little thing can make a difference to help save the environment and reduce our impact on the earth,” says Karin Adshead, Manager at The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Sherwood Park, Alberta. “I think that in the long run, this will help, and it gives people a better feeling when they leave the store.” 

Stuart Ikin, a frequent guest for over 15 years, regularly donates and picks up reusable bags at our Thrift Store in Leduc, Alberta. 

“I believe it’s a positive initiative by The Salvation Army. Overall, it’s one of the best moves they’ve made."

Stuart

Did You Know?

A reusable bag must be used at least 20 times to be environmentally friendly.2

PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS

PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS

We create opportunities to improve the local economy, conserve the natural environment, and strengthen the community by working with municipalities, academic and charitable institutions, and associations. We are also grateful to our many valued corporate partners, ranging from one-time donations to ongoing collaboration with businesses of all sizes across Canada.

We are always looking to build our network of partners – learn more and start the conversation today by clicking the button below.

Contact us

14 MUNICIPALITIES

We have partnered with many municipalities across the country for community based waste events, occupy transfer stations, and landfills with bins, sheds, and trailers, including Community Recycling Centres. We also co-host collection bins on municipal properties. Municipal partners allow us to engage in local communities to help divert clothing and household goods from landfills, defer waste expenses from municipalities, and release the value in waste streams back into our communities. These partnerships also help to contribute to decreasing the demand of new garments and reducing the number of resources required to make raw materials for new products.4

8 ASSOCIATIONS

Our association partners provide valuable networking as well as new resources and opportunities and help us support climate action plans around us, both locally and nationally.

5 NON-PROFIT PARTNERS

We are proud to collaborate alongside other non-profit partners to help make our world better and more sustainable for all.

3 ACADEMIC RESEARCH PARTNERS

Through our work with post-secondary institutions, we are participating in innovative and industry-leading projects to further our reuse, recycling, and end-of-life textile solutions.

Partners

Associations
· Circular Innovation Council
· Municipal Waste Association
· National Association for Charitable Textile Recycling (NACTR)
· National Zero Waste Council (Board)
· Recycling Council of Alberta
· Recycling Council of British Columbia
· Retail Council of Canada
· Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

Post-Secondary Institutions
· University of Toronto
· George Brown College
· Humber College

Non-Profit Partners
· BC Children’s Hospital
· B’nai Brith
· Canadian Red Cross
· Encorp Pacific
· Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Municipalities

· City of Edmonton
· City of Hamilton
· City of Markham
· City of Toronto
· City of Vancouver
· City of Vaughan
· City of Winnipeg
· Colchester County
· Durham Region
· Halton Region
· Metro-Vancouver
· Niagara Region
· Region of Peel
· Strathcona County

REFERENCES

1. Lakhan, C., 2021 “Emissions Coefficients for Residential Non Hazardous Waste Streams”
Data source: Eco-invent v3.8

2. United Nations Environment Programme (2020). Single-use plastic bags and their alternatives – Recommendations from Life Cycle Assessments