By Brian Lawrence
Three years after a fire forced its closure, the grand reopening of Trinity Treasures Thrift Shop was celebrated this morning with a ceremonial Tuck Tape cutting by manager Karen Shannon and Rev. Paula Ashby.
The shop, housed in the former sanctuary of the Trinity United Church, had been closed for three years after a fire damaged the rest of the building beyond repair. With the rebuilt portion of the church now habitable, volunteers and staff were eager to reopen.
“We could have spent another three or four weeks making sure it was perfect, but I prefer ‘ready or not, here we come,’ ” says Shannon, who moved to Creston two years ago from the Yukon.
The store’s operation not only helps offset church expenses but in the future will benefit non-profit organizations, with a proceed-sharing plan in development.
“This is our opportunity to give back to the community that has supported us,” says Ashby. “When people shop here or donate here, they’re also giving to the Creston community.”
The thrift shop on 10th Avenue North accepts a wide range of items, including appliances, clothing, and books. Unsalable clothing will be donated to the Creston Valley Gleaners Society to become rags, and Trinity Treasures won’t sell toys, due to liability issues.
“Anything that comes in we donate to Gleaners,” says Shannon. “They have the insurance.”
Gleaners helped the reopened venture in other ways, too, giving Shannon and her crew a behind-the-scenes look at their facility.
“They gave us a tour to see how it operates,” she says.
Trinity Treasures is open 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and the community welcome to leave donations — but only when it’s open.
“It has to go into a volunteer’s hand,” says Shannon.