Merlyn Jussila can鈥檛 recall how many donations she has sorted, cleaned, ironed as a volunteer with the Second Story Treasures thrift shop.
She鈥檚 been helping out for about 25 years, before there was a thrift shop.
鈥淲e were picking up things to sell. Where do you put them? In the driveway? No. Bob [her husband] had just built a brand new garage, and it got christened鈥�,鈥� Jussila quipped.
She was part of a group wanting to support the 91原创 Hospice Society.
鈥淢any years ago we were trying to figure out how we can raise money, and I squawked at the meeting we were having,鈥� the 91-year-old said. 鈥淚 said 鈥榃e鈥檙e not going to sell donuts鈥�, and that鈥檚 when somebody said 鈥楲et鈥檚 have a second-hand store.鈥�
With many donations, the volunteers had started with a garage sale.
鈥淎nd that was the beginning then we had to become serious. What are we going to do? I think we collected things, but what we wanted was people were able to drop off.鈥�
But where to store items until the next sale. The need was for a storefront. For several years, the thrift shop was in a strip mall on 88th Avenue in Walnut Grove before moving nearby to unit 4 8948 202nd St. a few years ago.
The shop is being readied for an annual tradition 鈥� the Spring Flip sale on Friday, March 15.
Second Story Treasures is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and accepts donations Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
鈥� READ MORE: Holidays can be a difficult time for those who have lost a loved one
Jussila is one of about 120 volunteers who keep the thrift store humming. She works behind the scenes in the donation and sorting area.
Roberta Higgs is another volunteer who uses her passion for antiques and collectibles to help the society. She helps merchandise the vintage and unique donations, and will do jewelry repairs so items are ready for sale.
The store is strict about what goes out on the floor. Items have to be in good order, appliances must work and there鈥檚 a list of items on the hospice society website page devoted to the store, langleyhospice.ca/thrift-store, with a list of items that cannot be accepted.
Items that are torn, broken or incomplete end up being an extra cost to charity thrift stores, taking money away from the cause.
The rules for donations
WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF
DONATIONS DUE TO SPACE RESTRICTIONS, LIABILITY ISSUES, AND/
OR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SALEABLE AND WE WILL INCUR
ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THE SOCIETY FOR REMOVAL.
鈥� Cribs, playpens, baby gates, bumper pads, car seats, swings, saucers/walkers, safety helmets of any kind.
鈥� Large stuffies, plastic pictures frames
鈥� Punch bowls, knives, one-off- glasses
鈥� Used water bottles & thermal coffee cups
鈥� Desks/office chairs/ filling cabinets
鈥� Encyclopedia鈥檚, reference / textbooks, National Geographics, cookbooks, or used binders
鈥� Discolored, ripped, torn books
鈥� TVs, VCRs, DVD players, DVDs, VHS, stereos, CD racks
鈥� Computers, printers, fax machines, tablets, cell phones, gaming consoles/ devices
鈥� Ripped, stained or torn clothing/linens
鈥� Ripped, stained, broken or scratched furniture
鈥� Sleeping pillows, hide-a-bed, futons or mattresses
鈥� Large exercise equipment; or ceiling fixtures
Furniture and larger items need to be pre-approved to ensure the store has space, and that the item is saleable. Un-sellable items have additional and significant costs to the Society for removal. Photos can be emailed in advance to secondstorytreasures@langleyhospice.ca.
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鈥� READ MORE: 91原创 Hospice Society started in 1983
