50 years of deals at thrift store
By Mike Barry
Half a century has passed since the Women’s Guild of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church first opened the doors to its Community Shop, and it’s safe to say the founders would be proud of how far the thrift shop has come.
The volunteer-run bargain basement is located — fittingly — in the downstairs of the church, at the corner of Elgin and Somerset Street West. Quaint, and just a little musty, the shop is jammed with racks of clothing, amateur artwork and a variety of charming items one might find in their grandparents’ attic. The timeworn place is resilient with regulars and occasional newcomers browsing slowly for treasures among the newest donations.
David Tappin has volunteered with the shop for six years, since his retirement, and has served as its general manager over the past year. He’s busy planning celebratory events, including a fashion show and silent auction on Sept. 23, to mark the milestone year for the shop.
Volunteers are preparing for the fashion show by setting aside special items found in day-to-day donations of clothing. Luxurious fur coats, eccentric suit jackets and bellydancing skirts are among the items already collected. Top-quality donations are reserved for the silent auction.
It’s “a place where you can find pretty inexpensive items. Clothing, books, music, dishes and more,” said Mary Frances, board member for the thrift shop. Frances said the shop is also a gathering place for the community, and has thrived over the last 50 years.
The shop is also a significant source of revenue for the church,. Tappin said the shop made just under $57,000 last year. It’s also a charitable force for the community through its voucher system. Vouchers to the thrift shop, usually $20 to $30 in value, are distributed through local agencies to people in need. More than $20,000 in vouchers was distributed last year alone.
How has a small, volunteer-run thrift shop survived 50 for years? Tappin said it’s all about the location.
“It’s fabulous,” Tappin said about daily foot traffic around the church. “Also the demand — it’s been constant.”
Despite its longevity, many locals, including members of the congregation, remain unaware of the shop’s existence. Tappin said he simply wants the community to know “we’re here, and we’ve been here for a long time.
“It generates a lot of money for the church and goodwill for the community,” he noted. “Every day we seem to help somebody who really needs help. They keep coming back, and even end up donating.”
Tappin added: “We get all kinds of treasures.” He recently sold a 70-year-old sewing machine, an item he described as “a museum-quality piece, just stunningly beautiful. I think it’s the nicest item we’ve ever had.”
Sometimes, the volunteers are even unsure of the function of certain donated items. “It’s a lot of fun because of the uncertainty. You don’t know what’s coming in.”
The shop is thriving, but the growing responsibility of organizing, stocking and selling the donated items has volunteers’ spread thin.
“We are looking for volunteers, particularly on Saturdays between 12 and 4,” Frances said. Prospective volunteers are encouraged to get involved by contacting the church directly.
The store accepts donations during open hours. They can also be left inside the side door of the church during off hours. The store is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.