Staff
The local Salvation Army Thrift Store continues to receive no shortage of donations of clothes and other items from the community, with proceeds from the sales of those items supporting programs to help district families.
But it also keeps getting far too many items which are in no shape for resale or get ruined by the elements when they are dropped off outside the store when it’s closed.
Capt. Marlene Sandoval said that with garage sale season in full swing, people must not drop off at the Salvation Army what they couldn’t sell at their Saturday morning yard sale.
“We trying to encourage people, when they donate to us, they make sure they donate something that can be resold,” she urged.
For example, people should refrain from donating clothes which are torn, stained, or smell like smoke, or items that are broken.
“If they’re going to bring us something from their garage sale, make sure it’s clean and in good condition,” Capt. Sandoval noted.
The Salvation Army does not have the laundry facilities to put everything it receives through the wash before preparing the items for sale.
“Also, don’t bring stuff when it’s a rainy day,” she stressed. “We know they want to get rid of their stuff, but also they should have consideration for us.”
Capt. Sandoval said staff and volunteers have to spend much energy and time sorting through usable donations and what has to be thrown away.
“Sometimes there’s perfectly good, expensive stuff donated, but it’s gotta be garbage because it’s all wet,” echoed volunteer Carol Livingston.
“Don’t waste our time and energy. Let’s work together,” pleaded Capt. Sandoval.
Clothes not suitable for sale are sorted, bagged up, and stored anywhere that can be found in the very limited space on the lower level of the Citadel or in outdoor sheds at the back.
These bags periodically are picked up by local trucking company Taylor International and shipped—free of charge—to a recycling centre in Toronto.
There, the Salvation Army gets 10 cents per pound of materials.
Capt. Sandoval said she can’t thank Taylor International enough, and she doesn’t know what she’d do without them.
The most recent shipment went out May 27, which consisted of a mini-mountain of bags accumulated over the past four months.
“I want to encourage the community to donate to us because what we sell in the store helps pay employees, helps the family services, and this is our main income,” noted Capt. Sandoval.
“Every dollar will support the food bank and people in need,” she stressed. “We are a non-profit organization.”
Donors can bring items to the Thrift Store during business hours (it is open weekdays from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
If donors cannot do this, they are asked to leave their donations in a shed located at the back of the Citadel, although this shed really is intended for donors who do not make it into town often and only may be able come by the Citadel after hours.
