Calgary-area Salvation Army thrift stores starting to see donations ease after busy pandemic period
It was hard for Salvation Army distribution manager Darren Franson to find storage for all the donations to the charity last year when COVID-19 first surfaced in Calgary.
"It was an absolute avalanche," said Franson. "We had this facility stuffed, plus we had another 30 trailers of product that we couldn't fit anywhere, and we can't process it fast enough at the stores," he said.
"So yeah, it was unbelievable the amount of stuff, you lock people up for three months, they find all kinds of things to get rid of."
It's taken months to sort through donations at the four Calgary thrift stores, one in Airdrie and another in Strathmore, along with the northeast distribution centre where Franson is the distribution manager. He says staff were seeing just about everything.
"A lot of clothing, which is what we desire the most," said Franson. "But a lot of stuff like small household items, toasters, toys, games, everything, I mean you think of it, they donated it."
Product sits on shelves for about six weeks before being removed and brought back to the warehouse, where it's sorted again.
"The clothing comes back here gets turned into 1,000-pound bales and it gets sold overseas to the secondary market," said Franson. "Then everything else, the metal, the cardboard it all gets recycled, we try our hardest to keep stuff out of the landfill."
Supervisor Nick Ingaa has worked in the warehouse for two years and also delivers new, sorted items to Thrift Stores and brings back what doesn't sell. He's seen all kinds of people, from every demographic shopping at the Salvation Army's stores.
"I would say everybody, if you are happy with thrift then we have something for you," said Ingaa.
"We have stuff that is actually brand new and has never been used that we sell on our stores, we also have stuff that's been gently used and available for someone who has a lower budget, I would say but we cater to everyone across the spectrum."
Franson says money raised through the sale of donated items at the Thrift Stores stays in the community.
"It's 100 per cent non-profit, so after all of the stores, wages and everything is taken care of, all of that profit actually stays in Calgary," said Franson.
"Within the Salvation Army regions we have a Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Center, the Center of Hope downtown, and it all stays here, it doesn't go back to corporate headquarters."
And the charity is seeing demand for its services needed now more than ever.
"We've never seen demand like this," said Franson. "Salvation Army's the largest social provider outside of the government in Canada and we don't expect anything of anybody, if there's a need we try and meet it and I've never seen it like this."
It's taken long hours to clear the warehouse of donations and recycle what's not sold, but Ingaa says it's worth it.
"Absolutely, this is fulfilling work," said Ingaa. "My work feeds the hungry, it houses the homeless you know it helps the less fortunate members of our society and to me that that wakes me up every day and brings me to work."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.