Kore Roa-Dillon is hoping her thrifty ways will help get young people off the streets in the Philippines.
The New Westminster resident recently opened the Sugar Shack thrift store on 12th Street and will use some of the business’s profits to help a Pentecostal church near Manilla that helps get street kids off the streets and into educational and training programs. Clothes, shoes, household items and assorted merchandise can be found in New Westminster’s newest thrift store.
“There are things you don’t even know people will be interested so I put everything I get out there for sale. Some are really interesting,” Roa-Dillon said. “It’s a surprise. Every day is a surprise.”
The New West resident once managed the Original Works shop in the Westminster Quay Public Market and owned a bookstore in Vancouver. When it came time to opening a business to raise funds for the church near Manilla, a thrift shop was an obvious choice.
“I have experiences with thrift shops because I shop,” she said. “I am a thrift shop junkie.”
Along with shopping at thrift stores, Roa-Dillon volunteers at two other thrift stores in town and works part-time at one of those shops.
Roa-Dillon said she’s not alone when it comes to a love of doing business at thrift stores.
“I find that a lot of people I talk to enjoy shopping at thrift stores,” she said. “It’s the thrill of the find. You don’t know to expect. There are new things all the time.”
Getting thrifty in New West
* Mega Thrift Store, 611 12th St.
* New to You, 416 East Columbia St. Operated by the Royal Columbian Hospital Auxiliary, the shop rises money to fund equipment and comfort items for patients at Royal Columbian Hospital.
* Salvation Army Thrift Store, 774 Columbia St.
* SPCA Thrift Store, 615 12th St. This longtime business donates funds annually to the B.C. SPCA for its animal shelters.
* St. Barnabas Thrift Store, 1010 Fifth Ave. The shop raises money for the church's food programs, including a community lunch and emergency food cupboard.
* Sugar Shack thrift store, 630 12th St.
* Treasure Chest, 435 Sixth St. In addition to raising money to support the community programs offered by the Canadian, Mental Health Association, the Treasure Chest provides an opportunity for people to develop pre-employment skills.
* Value Village, #110-1135 Tanaka Crt., Queensborough.
If you know of any other thrift stores in New West, be sure to let the Record know by emailing [email protected].
