The Salvation Army is putting the finishing touches on its newest thrift store in Langford, which is set to become its largest retail location on Vancouver Island when it opens.
The organization announced Monday that staff at the new store, located at 975 Langford Pkwy. near Westshore Town Centre, start welcoming shoppers on Thursday, June 6, with a special ribbon-cutting event scheduled for 10 a.m.
The Langford store will stay open until 8 p.m. that day, offering a variety of “gently used” items like clothing, electronics, and books, notes Salvation Army in a news release.
“With the support of our guests, donors, employees, volunteers, and partners, the Westshore location will help us continue to uplift our local community together,” said Ted Troughton, managing director for Salvation Army thrift stores.
The new space measures more than 11,000 square feet, larger than any other Salvation Army thrift store on the Island. The non-profit already has another store in Langford on Goldstream Ave., and it has a total of eight across the Island.
The organization is thrilled that this “significant milestone” is happening in Langford, a community “bustling with growth and development,” said Troughton.
Shifting to thrifting
The opening comes as thrifting is on the rise, according to a PayPal report from 2023. Of the 2,000 Canadians polled, 73 per cent admitted they were purchasing pre-loved items as the cost of living soars.
“It’s better on the pocketbook,” said Tanya Sterling with Sterling Financial in a previous interview.
Earlier this year, the financial planner told CHEK News she was noticing a shift in her clients’ spending habits as more thrift.
“Thrifting with us is a win-win situation for the community, and we encourage everyone to visit us this Thursday from 10 am to 8 pm to shop, donate, and learn more about what we do,” said Troughton, noting there will be refreshments for those who stop by.
There will also be a dedicated donor welcome centre at the back of the new store, where donors can drop off donations seven days a week.
“In the last fiscal year alone, The Salvation Army Thrift Store raised an impressive $87,656 through its stores to support local communities across Vancouver Island. Additionally, it provided over $164,724 worth of clothing and household items to over 1,440 neighbours in need, free of charge,” reads the release.
Last fall, CHEK News spoke with a woman who survived on Salvation Army donations and now gives back. She said she was given food and clothing vouchers for more than a year and was happy to finally be in a position to help others.
“I feel grateful,” said Kelley Sherin, who’s now a Salvation Army volunteer. “I feel grateful that I have that ability to be able to help families out there that need it.”
On March 23, the Salvation Army closed its decades-old downtown Victoria thrift store, located at 525 Johnson St., saying rising operation costs were to blame.
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Ethan Morneau
