U-Turn Ministries in Wallaceburg is one of many local groups to benefit from a new store in downtown Wallaceburg.
U-Turn was handed a $300 cheque this week from Re:find, a charity thrift shoppe located at 508 James Street in downtown Wallaceburg.
“We are a group of people who support Wallaceburg Christian School,” said April Tuininga, manager of the store. “The school is privately funded, so we wanted to find a way to earn some extra money, so our kids can have updated sports equipment, computer technology, there are some repairs that need to be done on or building.”
Tuininga said they have supported a handful of local charities so far, including: Habitat For Humanity, the Right To Life refuge in Chatham, the Salvation Army food bank, U-Turn Ministries, Neighbourlink and Knox Presbyterian soup kitchen.
“It has been really fun to see people connected to the school, connected to our churches in the community but also the community volunteers to come together to support both the school and our local charities,” she said.
Tuininga said the store opened in November 2013.
“We are completely run by volunteers,” she said. “Our committee members are all volunteers. We are open six days a week in downtown Wallaceburg. We send most of the money we earn back to the Christian School but we also take a portion of our proceeds and give it to a local charity.
Tuininga said their donated items come from all sorts of places.
“At first it was just people connected to our school, our local churches that were connected to the school, but as we’ve grown people in Wallaceburg and the larger community have been donating stuff,” she said. “I think what people really like about Re-Find is that when they donate to Re-Find, it stays in Wallaceburg. Sometime if you donate to Goodwill, which is also a great organization, but it goes out of Wallaceburg. If you like to support the folks that need things in Wallaceburg, this is a great place to being stuff.”
Tuininga said they have a wide range of items.
“We sell, it seems like almost everything, from household appliances and lamps and glassware and dishware, to clothing and games and kids stuff, furniture,” she said. “We take almost anything… not appliances, not mattresses, not cribs, the standard stuff that thrift stores don’t take.”
She added: “Things turn over pretty quick. Anything we don’t use we donate to other organizations like the Walpole Island Women’s Centre or the Baby Cupboard downtown.”
Re:find is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Call them at 519-626-9814 or e-mail them at thrift@wallaceburgchristianschool.com.
