A 91原创 charity continues to help and serve local families in need through its relatively new free shop.

Raphael House opened The Shop last year, which offers a collection of gently used clothing, bags, blankets, toys, kitchenware, and more for free to its registered families.

Items are donated from community members, schools, and local organizations, explained managing director Scott Thiessen.

鈥淎ny leftover items are donated to other local charities that are supporting the community,鈥� he said.

Thiessen estimates an average of 60 families visiting each shop, and said people line up as early as 8 before it opens at 10 a.m.

Raphael House opened officially in 2021, after starting out as a mobile food hub in 2020, and now provides groceries to an average of 270 families per week.

Its founder and director Vickie Funk said she and her husband made a commitment to fund Raphael House for the first 18 months, while developing it.

鈥淲e realized COVID-19 wasn鈥檛 the cause of families struggling to provide groceries, it just highlighted it,鈥� she said.

Within the first six months, many local businesses, farms, churches, and community members stepped up to regularly donate.

When the house started operating, Funk saw about 60 families from the school district each week, but in the last two years the demand has risen to more than 270 families needing help with basic groceries 鈥� with more than 100 on the wait list.

鈥淭he increase in the cost of groceries has been a huge reason for our numbers increasing, as well as the number of refugees and newcomers to Canada,鈥� Funk shared.

In addition to groceries, the House also offers regular programs including cooking classes,

Raphael House is still growing, Funk noted, and she hopes it will emerge as a neighbourhood house where families not only get support but find a feeling of belonging, too.

鈥淥ur clients come from a variety of backgrounds and stages of life, although all have kids in 91原创 schools. The products displayed cater to a wide variety of ages and sizes. It鈥檚 another way for Raphael House to connect our resources to help people within the community,鈥� Thiessen said.

People who are able to can donate food items, diapers, hygiene products, or any monetary amount to Raphael House, located at 20471 Douglas Cres. It鈥檚 open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Thursdays from 5 to 6 :30 p.m.

The Shop will be open again in a couple months, Thiessen predicts, once enough donations have been collected.

A full list of items needed, or to donate online, can be found at .

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