Infused with a Passion for Art

Vernon Miike, our Oakville Store Manager is an artist at heart. With a background in abstract and classical fine art, Vernon brought his artistic talent to his work life when he painted an acrylic portrait of The Salvation Army’s founder, William Booth, which is now displayed at our Oakville Home office. What inspired him to paint the portrait is both the influence our founder has had in society by establishing the proud organization of The Salvation Army and the uniqueness of his physical appearance. “William Booth is a very intriguing man, with a distinguished look and I’ve always been captivated by interesting faces when I paint my portraits.”

In the past, Vernon has worked at different retail stores, but what he likes most about being at The Salvation Army Thrift Store, is that “It is a lot more personal, it’s more one-on-one. Being part of a non-profit is great. What we do helps our communities: the shelters, foodbanks, our campaigns such as Send a Kid to Camp; the list goes on and on. The atmosphere within our stores also reflects the community and the diversity of our team members encourages us to share input and that’s what makes us unique. The beauty of what we do is that we’re allowed to let our personalities show through.”

Caring for the planet we share is also a deep inspiration for Vernon both during work and off-duty. In his earlier days of being an artist, Vernon purchased canvases from art stores. However, now he repurposes old canvases. “I buy old canvases and paint over them, it’s a great way of helping the environment.”

Thank you, Vernon, for sharing your passion for art. We always love learning more about our teams and celebrating what makes them unique!

Serving the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood with REmarket

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, Waste Reduction Group (SNLA WRG) hosted their 7th REmarket this past May. The event gives the St. Lawrence community members an opportunity to bring their unwanted textiles, household items, electronics for recycling, repair or donation to local charities, including The Salvation Army Thrift Store.

The REmarket saw an impressive turnout, with over 600 generous donors who participated. Managed entirely by volunteers, the event has gained recognition from various Toronto communities and has become a much-anticipated occasion for local residents.

“People are looking for joy and somehow the REmarket is providing that for both the givers and the receivers,” said Kelly Okamura, an expert in the textile industry, activist, and change professional, who collaborates with the SNLA WRG REmarket.

Bruno Leps, one of the initiators of the WRG and former board member of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association said, “The REmarket is still in its infancy and the number of partners is growing. Working with The Salvation Army Thrift Store as a partner has been great. We are definitely meeting a real need as there is a growing need to reduce waste.”

For this specific event, The Salvation Army Thrift Store gratefully received 33 pallets of pre-loved items. “We want to express our heartfelt thank you to the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, Waste Reduction Group and the whole community for their generous donation,” says Ted Troughton, Managing Director at The Salvation Army Thrift Store. “Partnerships like this are so important to the work we do here at The Salvation Army Thrift store. They help us in supporting our local communities and the planet we share.”

For those interested in participating in the REmarket, the next one will take place on September 20-21, 2023, at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, Ontario.

If you are not able to join, you can still make a positive impact in your local community by dropping off clothing and household items you no longer need at one of our Donor Welcome Centres across Canada. For more information on how your donations make a difference, please click here.

Overcoming Adversity by Volunteering

Sohan, who is an 82-year-old retired engineer is one of our dedicated and truly valued volunteers at the Mississauga Thrift Store. In 2017, Sohan explored his nearby community looking for volunteer opportunities and was warmly welcomed by the Mississauga team instantly. His time volunteering has helped to provide him with a renewed sense of purpose after losing his beloved wife of 48 years. Not only is he able to use volunteering as an outlet for him to interact with other people within the community, but it has also been a meaningful way to give back as he overcame adversity.

From left to right: Selvamani, Nora, Israt, Sohan, Ted, Shanthini, Paul, Sharon, Ruhi, Oluremi

Since then, Sohan divides his time between visiting India and Canada. Every summer, he spends three fulfilling hours daily volunteering at the store and is surrounded by a team that adores him. “I don’t feel lonely now at all. I enjoy working here, the staff are so friendly. I get so much love,” he said.

Israt, the Store Manager, also said that “Sohan is amazing. Our clothing team really cherishes his company; he brings fun and laughter to the table. His presence is a breath of fresh air.”

Sohan is also a proud father and grandfather and enjoys other activities such as gardening, golfing, going for walks and socializing with neighbours.

Thank you Sohan for your hard work, your positive outlook on life and for bringing hope and inspiration to our team. Your presence enriches our community and brightens our spirits every day.

How Recycling in Newmarket Helps Us Make a Positive Social and Environmental Impact

Caring for our communities and recycling go hand-in-hand at The Salvation Army Thrift Store as we embrace every opportunity to partner with our neighbours to make a positive social and environmental impact.

On June 3rd, the Thrift Store Team proudly took part in the City of Newmarket’s Ward 1 Recycle Event. The event was hosted by Newmarket’s Ward 1 Councillor, Grace Simon, who was born in Newmarket and became councillor 5 years ago to better understand the community’s needs and how to serve in a greater way.

The annual event has been “a great service for the community,” said Grace. It is something residents look forward to every year as it gives them the ability to declutter while gathering items for recycling, shredding and donation.

Grace, who is also responsible for selecting the organizations to partner with for these events, chose to work with The Salvation Army Thrift Store, because as she said, “The Salvation Army is such a vital part of our community, our country and worldwide. You’re our first go-to, to having you participate with us. Knowing that the items are going to serve the right needs.”

We are grateful to both the teams and community members who took part in the Recycle Event. We collected 14 pallets of pre-loved clothing and household items—all which will truly make a difference in our communities while keeping items out of the landfill.

Thank you, Grace and the community members of Newmarket, for partnering with us and for helping us care for our communities and the planet we share.

Our Donors Share Inspiring Stories of Giving and Making a Difference

Donations are the lifeblood of our organization, and to celebrate Give Something Away Day, which is observed on July 15th, we had the privilege of interviewing some of our amazing donors at our Mississauga and Guelph stores in Ontario. Their stories and valuable tips serve as a testament to the positive impact of giving to our local communities and the planet we share! Read their stories below:

“The annual community pick-up with another organization didn’t happen this year, and I would rather donate to The Salvation Army Thrift Store”, says Andrew. “I feel better knowing that my donations will be useful here as opposed to just going to the dump.” Andrew’s commitment to making a difference 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 Guelph Salvation Army Thrift Store.

Lori’s dedication to minimizing waste and ensuring the items she donates have a second life reflects her strong commitment to making a positive impact on both the environment and those in need. “We don’t throw anything away; everything is donated, reused, recycled.” When asked about the criteria for sorting items, she wisely shares, “As long as donations are clean and can be used again.”

After experiencing a difficult loss with her mother’s passing around Christmas last year, Leanne found solace in donating to The Salvation Army. “I feel great donating my items to The Salvation Army because I know you guys are always at the forefront and ready to help. When I came in around Christmas time, the store looked like my mom’s house because of all the items I’ve donated here!”, says Leanne. She also shared some valuable tips for encouraging others to donate, saying, “Since I had my mom’s whole house to tackle, I tried setting up stations to categorize all of the items we planned to give away. I stopped counting after gathering over 20 garbage bags of items to be donated and spread the generosity of these items all around; to my local church, down to the Dominican Republic, and to the Guelph Salvation Army Thrift Store.”

Lourdes explains that her main motivation to donate to us is because “this organization makes things for the community”. She also offers valuable advice for potential donors, stating, “Make sure donations are clean and ready to use, imagine that you are going to wear it, you’re going to use it.”

Decluttering and doing good for the community were Barb’s main reasons to donate these beautiful, preloved scarves at our Mississauga store. “My drawers were full, and I wasn’t wearing all that stuff. I always donate here, it’s an easy and useful thing to do. Supporting the community is a good thing to do.”

Our heartfelt thank you to Andrew, Lori, Leanne, Lourdes, Barb and all our amazing donors across Canada. Without your generous donations and continued support, we would not be able to care for our communities and the planet we share!

#GiveSomethingAwayDay

Community Tip Inspires Church Donations for the Thrift Store

What started as items sold on a table at the Christmas Tree Lane Bazaar at the Kingsway-Lambton United Church 59 years ago has now blossomed into a community flea market that is one of the most well-known events in Toronto. Hosted by the Etobicoke church on the last Saturday of every April, this year the event was held on Saturday April 29th, with items for sale in the church’s gymnasium, library, nursery and outside.

These items are donated by members of the church’s local community and the market is something that everyone in the area looks forward to attending every year. “Crowds typically line up well before the 8 am start, even braving the rain and cold as they did this year,” said Martha MacGray, Flea Market Committee Member. Priscilla Knight, a long-time coordinator of the Flea Market and member of the founding and still sponsoring, United Church Women (UCW) added that, “The flea market is a real special time to come together, to sit, work and talk to people. We have fun together.”

The UCW also plays a crucial role in coordinating the event and allocating some of the proceeds to local charities. This year, as a new charity partner, they decided to donate their left-over goods to The Salvation Army Thrift Store as a suggestion of a community member. A total of 33 pallets, which translates to two truckloads of goods, including paintings, housewares, bedding linens, clothing, toys and more, were donated to our Organization!

Martha also explained that another benefit to donating to us, is how our efforts in environmental stewardship align with the church’s ideals of keeping items out of landfills. Our Impact Report which can be accessed here, really resonated with them as well, as we are one of Canada’s largest textile collectors and a leader in textile diversion in the charitable sector.

We love innovative ideas and initiatives like these and appreciate our partnership with the UCW and Kingsway-Lambton United Church. Together, we are caring for our communities and the planet we share.

Join us in making a meaningful impact!

Inspired by the generosity of Kingsway-Lambton United Church, we invite other organizations to follow their lead and donate to us. Learn more here.

Celebrating North Vancouver

We are committed to caring for our communities and it warms our heart when our efforts are recognized by our neighbours. The North Shore thrifting community has done just that –to show us how they value the hard work, dedication and commitment of our employees, they’ve voted our North Vancouver location as their Favourite Second-Hand Store in the 2023 North Shore News’ Reader’s Choice Awards!

This May, the store received the awarded certificate in the mail. Store Manager Ligaya Stuart said it was “beautiful news,” and explained that the success of the store for winning this award was due to her team focusing on the good in people. “We see the goodness of the situation when serving people. Part of our business is to be patient and kind, while we get inspiration daily. Sometimes we act as social workers for our communities. We learn everyday and that’s why we are successful as a whole Salvation Army.”

Maytte Abad, our local District Manager, also praised the team. “I am so proud of each and every one of you for this achievement. It’s wonderful to see your efforts recognized and appreciated by the community. Your commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others through sustainable practices and affordable shopping options is truly inspiring.”

A special thank you also goes out to North Shore News and all the readers who took the time to vote for us. Your recognition inspires us to continue striving for excellence each and every day as we make a positive impact in our local communities.

Fun fact: Last fiscal year, our stores in the Vancouver area raised over $52,000 to provide additional support to The Salvation Army through the generosity of our Guests. We also provided 318 vouchers to neighbours in need who shopped for essential items at our Thrift Stores free of charge.

Debbie, our Thrift Store Ambassador

Our employees are true ambassadors of our Organization, Mission and Brand. Debbie, one of our Thrift Store managers is an exemplary model of how she embodies the values of The Salvation Army in her work every day.

Debbie grew up in a busy household of 10 and when she was in her teens, she decided that she wanted to attend Booth Memorial High School in St. John’s, NL. She’d always seen how The Salvation Army wanted to help people without discrimination, and admired the work done by the Organization following in the footsteps of its founder William Booth.

When Debbie saw a posting for a part-time position at the Acton Salvation Army Thrift Store, she applied. After becoming a full-time manager, she moved to the Georgetown store, which she has been managing for the last six years.

Working for The Salvation Army Thrift Store really resonates with her. “The Salvation Army will always hold a special place with me,” said Debbie, who also expressed the inclusiveness of the Organization.

“Personally, the good I have seen and have been fortunate enough to be part of, will stay with me forever. Their mission statement, ‘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’, sums it up for me.”

Debbie recalled attending a tour of various Salvation Army facilities including a men’s shelter and a soup kitchen. She described her visits as, “eye opening”. “The number of programs and facilities that The Salvation Army is a part of, was humbling and it reminded me how important the funds we raise at the store are and how many lives we touch.”

Reinforcing the idea of touching and transforming lives, Debbie relayed a moving story about an individual in the store’s community who fell upon challenging times and was experiencing homelessness. Debbie and her team, along with members of the community, came together to provide them with available local Salvation Army resources where the individual was able to secure a permanent residence. Recently, they came back to see Debbie looking happy and in good health. “I will never forget the hug and appreciation that day. We both had made a huge impact on each other through this.”

Debbie has shown that she has a deep appreciation and desire to help others and a passion for the mission of The Salvation Army. We thank her for being a true Thrift Store ambassador, and for helping us care for our communities and the planet we share!

Celebrating 25 years of partnership with Bank and Vogue

Founded in the early 90s, Bank & Vogue is one of The Salvation Army Thrift Store’s longstanding and reliable partners who helps us extend the lifecycle of textiles that are not sold in our stores.

“We are proud to be celebrating 25 years of partnership with Bank & Vogue,” says Ted Troughton, Managing Director of The Salvation Army Thrift Store. “It’s through amazing partners like Bank & Vogue that we contribute to the circular economy and thrift our way to a sustainable future for all.”

We had the pleasure to interview Steven Bethell, Founder and President of Bank & Vogue, to celebrate this important milestone and learn more about how our partnership has contributed to the circular economy.

To demonstrate the importance of our partnership, Steven shared an interesting analogy of a beaver that builds a dam on a river. “In building that dam, the beaver creates an ecosystem for other species to live and grow,” says Steven. “Looking at our partnership with The Salvation Army Thrift Store, and that early work that was done 25 years ago, we created a dam. Throughout the years, this dam has created an ecosystem where amazing innovations have been developed to the secondhand sector.”

Some of these innovations for Bank & Vogue include sourcing materials for creating new products like the Converse Renew Shoe (pictured). “We sourced striped shirts, that were graded and cut for the collection to create a sneaker, with breathable, lightweight upper”, says Steven. “The products we collect through our partners like The Salvation Army Thrift Store help us create more solutions for a circular economy, and develop groundbreaking sustainable collections.”

According to Steven, none of these would have happened without the amazing work that The Salvation Army does, and the beginning of that relationship 25 years ago: “This ecosystem that The Salvation Army Thrift Store started with us has really created a beacon of hope of what circularity could look like in a bigger economy.”

Thank you, Steven and Bank & Vogue, for these 25 years of partnership to help us care for our communities and the planet we share!