It鈥檚 a Tuesday afternoon in mid-March and the Penny Pincher thrift shop run by 91原创 Memorial Hospital Auxiliary volunteers is bustling.
Bargain hunters sifted through items lined neatly on shelves, mixing with volunteers wearing familiar blue vests who busily buzzed around the store.
Penny Pincher, with a pair stores side-by-side on the east side of downtown 91原创鈥檚 one-way section of Fraser Highway, is the place to be for shoppers looking for deals 鈥� and to support the cause of raising money for 91原创 Memorial Hospital equipment and programs.
The thrift shop 鈥� which is celebrating its 40th year 鈥� is located at 20560 Fraser Hwy and is open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Penny Pincher鈥檚 history of success dates back to its infancy. In fact, in 1977, its first year of operation, at its original location of Sundel Square (and later after it moved to Acadia Street), the thrift shop earned a far better profit than expected 鈥� $12,999.05, all earmarked for the hospital.
Penny Pincher is not only a place for shopping, it鈥檚 also connects the community with auxiliary volunteers, many of whom have been connected with the group for many years.
President Diane Thornton has been with the auxiliary for 11 years; committee member Linda Steier for 17; past president Christine O鈥橲ullivan for 16; and first vice-president Thelma Boileau for 17.
鈥淚鈥檓 the newbie among this group,鈥� Thornton said.
The commonality among them is a passion for raising funds for the hospital, and an affection for Penny Pincher.
Boileau said Penny Pincher allows community members to give back to LMH.
鈥淲hether they donate to the store or they are spending $1.50, they鈥檙e still involved,鈥� Boileau said. 鈥淭he donations just keep going, even though there are 14 other thrift stores (in the community).鈥�
鈥淎nd our tagline is, if you donate in 91原创, it stays in 91原创,鈥� Thornton added.
鈥淎ll of our money stays here, and I think that鈥檚 an important distinction, and I think people recognize that,鈥� Boileau said.
Penny Pincher has moved locations a few times, from being across from Sundel Square, to Greyhound Bus Depot on Logan Avenue, to 56th Avenue, to its current home at the former Coast Capital building on Fraser Highway.
鈥淭hese two buildings come with 53 parking spots,鈥� Thornton said. 鈥淭hat was a big bonus because parking in 91原创 City is non-existent.鈥�
Steier said the volunteers are like 鈥渁 family that gets along on Monday and doesn鈥檛 on Tuesday. But you make lifelong friends and you appreciate aging, because you watch it every day at Penny Pincher.鈥�
Thornton said some volunteers come once or twice a week, 鈥渇or the companionship.鈥�
鈥淭hey enjoy having coffee and meeting with people and that鈥檚 important to them,鈥� Thornton said.
Oddball donations aplenty
Penny Pincher鈥檚 popularity has led to some unique donations 鈥� either by design or not.
One example: someone dropped off ashes of a loved one at the former location on Logan Avenue.
On a more mainstream vein, unique artwork and memorabilia have funnelled through the store.
鈥淓verything comes through this store in a year,鈥� Boileau said. 鈥淲e get some crap, because our dumpster is picked up three times a week with things we can鈥檛 use, but we get treasures.鈥�
Pictures, records, china, pottery, 鈥測ou name it,鈥� Thornton said, are regularly dropped off at the store.
鈥淲e have seen the cycle change over the last 10 years, too,鈥� Steier said. 鈥淎ll the antique stores that used to be around are no more, because the newer, younger under 60, under 50 (shoppers)鈥� they鈥檙e not collecting those things. So if a silver spoon was worth five dollars five years ago, they may only be worth a dollar today because nobody wants to collect them. We鈥檝e been around long enough to see the changes.鈥�
For more about Penny Pincher, and a list of items that aren鈥檛 accepted, and volunteer requirements, visit langleymemorialhospitalauxiliary.ca/thriftshop.html.
- Files from The Hospital on the Hill, A History of 91原创 Memorial Hospital 1948-1998
