Prairie Crocus Thrift Shop blooms

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This article was published 20/10/2016 (3362 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Value-conscious shoppers visiting Elmwood’s newest thrift store not only walk away with good deals, they also help a pair of worthy causes.

All proceeds from sales at the Prairie Crocus Thrift Store at C-930 Nairn Ave. go to support Dignity House and Finding Freedom.

Dignity House is a ministry which supports women who are exiting the sex trade, while Finding Freedom aids those suffering from addiction, trauma and spiritual brokenness.

Prairie Crocus volunteer Maryann Petriw said the shop, which opened in April, keeps its costs low because it is run entirely by volunteers.

“This is fun. It’s fun to decorate the spaces,” Petriw said.

Petriw said Prairie Crocus is looking for volunteers to do everything from staging to electrical and furniture repair and garbage removal and transport. Volunteers can work as little or as much as they wish and full training is provided.

Retired teacher Diane Suppas said she loves working at Prairie Crocus. She enjoys giving back to the community and is kept busy handling the steady flow of new items people drop off every day.

“It’s nice to have a purpose and the store needs a lot of help,” Suppas said.

Prairie Crocus accepts most items but backroom storage is minimal and it has to keep most items on the sales floor.

“Our prices are low and very competitive with other (thrift stores),” Suppas said.

Petriw acknowledged that Prairie Crocus has plenty of competitors but said the shop plans on standing out.

“We want to have a nice environment and make it pleasing when you walk in,” she said.

Prairie Crocus plans weekly mystery sales whereby items are marked so low that they go. A recent hockey equipment sale proved popular.

There will also be silent auctions on unique items ranging from camera equipment to vintage purses and books. A recent visit saw co-ordinator Jade Sawatsky pricing die-cast toy cars, an old sewing kit and a 30-year-old Bob Dylan songbook.

“A lot of people love this stuff,” said Sawatsky, who comes from an antiquing family. “I enjoy going through this. You never know what’s going to come through the door.”

Suppas and Petriw said they are already seeing a regular clientele from the neighbourhood.

“Ultimately the goal is to have a sense of community, that you have a place to stop into,” Suppas said.

Prairie Crocus Thrift Store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Visit www.prairiecrocusthriftshop.ca

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