A 30-year anniversary is something to celebrate and Mission Thrift Store in Duncan (formerly known as Bibles For Missions Thrift Store) is doing just that with a special Customer Appreciation event on Saturday Aug. 24, from 11 a.m. till closing.
A well-known fixture in the community, the store first opened its doors in August 1994. Over the years, they have connected shoppers with affordable, quality clothing, children's items and household goods, diverted re-usable items from landfills and supported missions worldwide.
"We hold our three-part mission close to our hearts, guiding our actions for the past 30 years," says General Manager Lisa Paarup. "Our primary mission is to support our local community by providing easy access to affordable, gently used clothing and household goods. Our second mission is to protect the environment by diverting clothing from landfills and the third is to fund Christian-based programs through Bible League Canada. In addition to operating the store, we support 14 other agencies in the community who provide for the unhoused or others in need of assistance.”
Mission Thrift Stores began in 1988 when two men from Chilliwack joined a Bible League ministry tour to India. Inspired by their experiences, they returned to Canada and established Mission Thrift Stores to support the emerging Christian churches and Bible League Canada. Since then, the non-profit, volunteer-driven organization has grown to over 50 locations across the country.
"Our thrift stores are volunteer-based and we are grateful for our dedicated volunteers here in Duncan," Lisa says. "We currently have more than 80 active volunteers ranging in age from 17 to 90, some having been with us the entire 30 years. We are always looking to welcome more. As I like to say, there is no age limit to volunteering! It’s a great way to meet new people and stay connected with the community."
Last year, Mission Thrift Store in Duncan expanded its storefront, creating a bright and cheerful space with new items added daily. The larger store allows for the showcasing of more products, regular monthly sales and pop-up sales, which are well-loved by the local community. Check out their Facebook page Facebook for regular updates.
Donations of gently used clothing and home goods are accepted from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To volunteer sign-up online here. To find out more about Mission Thrift Store’s local and global missions, visit missionthriftstore.com. For more information about Bible League Canada, visit bibleleague.ca.