Thrifting has been growing in popularity and value.
For those who specialize in second hand goods business has never been so profitable.
In an era of disposable fashion and cheap household products, we are encouraged to give away our stuff. To quote Japanese declutter queen, Marie Kondo, “If it doesn’t spark joy say thank you and goodbye.”
Thrift stores bring in big money to fund charity organizations. Delta charity shops have a proud history of contributing to the health and welfare of our community.
The shining star is the Delta Hospital Auxiliary shop in Ladner. A donation of your stuff, or a purchase of someone else’s stuff, goes directly to Delta Hospital. It’s as simple as that.
Another treasure has been the Hospice Cottage Charity Shoppe in Tsawwassen. It has a long and cherished past of supporting hospice services. That’s why it’s so hard to accept that these funds raised might no longer be staying in our community.
Donating to hospice has become complicated and fragmented. It all started when the Delta Hospice Society refused to provide MAiD. That stance put Fraser Health Authority in charge of the Irene Thomas Hospice, so now our tax dollars fund it.
Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Hospital, Mountain View Manor and now Irene Thomas Hospice. They fund equipment and capital projects like the awesome Toigo Diagnostic services building at Delta Hospital.
Heron Hospice Society provides counselling, grief support and education about end of life to families in our community. It too depends on donations and charity events.
Ironically Delta Hospice Society is no longer involved in our local hospice, but they own, operate and reap the benefits of the Cottage Charity Shoppe, (estimated to be worth almost $4 million). None of their revenue goes towards Irene Thomas Hospice.
So now that we are informed, it’s up for us all to decide where we want our thrift store dollars to go. Too bad thrifting had to get so political.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who wishes she had opened a declutter business, because she gets a little high when she donates to charity shops.
