Guelph charity thrift store sees demand skyrocket as students return to school
'We’re getting 15 to 20 new families coming in every week,’ says Lisa Burke of The Clothing Closet
A charity thrift store in Guelph, Ont., is ensuring everyone has access to the clothes they need regardless of financial situations.
The Clothing Closet has operated out of the New Life Christian Reformed Church for 25 years.
"It's like a thrift store, except we don't have a cash register," said Lisa Burke, co-ordinator of The Clothing Closet. "So the clothing we have is all for free."
As the cost of living has seen a significant increase over the last few years, the shoppers are typically people struggling to make ends meet, Burke said.
The store runs on a no-questions-asked rule. Shoppers don't have to prove they need the clothes, but they are asked to register with the store before they begin browsing.
"When you go shopping at the mall, nobody asks whether or not you can afford to pay for this. So it's a dignity issue," said Burke.
Back-to-school demand
Between inflation and parents preparing their children for the return to school, Burke said, demand has skyrocketed to levels she has never seen in her nine years working there.
She added that in the last year alone, The Clothing Company has welcomed 500 new families.
"We typically would have a couple families in the week, now we've averaged 10. But I'd say in the last little while, we're getting 15 to 20 new families coming in every week."
With school supplies and food for lunch topping families' priority lists, new clothing often falls just outside the budget.
"It pulls on your heartstrings when a parent tells you that they feel guilty or that they're a terrible parent because they can't provide for their kid's needs, let alone their wants," Burke shared.
Right now, the store's biggest need for donations is children's short-sleeved T-shirts.
"Elementary school sizes 4 to 12. We just can't keep short sleeved T-shirts in stock."
All the clothing within the store is donated. The majority is given to the store by the community but Burke says sometimes retail stores will also give to the cause.
Donations are accepted Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Evening donations can also be made on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., but Burke said the easiest way to ensure someone will be there to collect is by checking their website.
Burke asks that the clothing items are clean with no stains, holes, odours or pet hair and have lots of life left in them.
Once collected, the store's 35 volunteers arrange the clothing for people to look through.
Food bank offers clothing
While demand may be higher than she's ever seen, the need for help with clothing has been around for a while in Guelph.
At the end of 2023, the Guelph Food Bank opened a thrift store right beside their establishment as a way to keep funding for their food programs.
The food bank often gets clothing donations along with food donations and opted to host clothing exchanges and pop-up stores rather than throw those items away.
"We're not just helping people with food, but we're also helping put clothing on people's back and shoes on their feet," said Carolyn McLeod-McCathy, the woman who came up with the idea.
Much of the clothing donations come from the community but also from nearby clothing stores unloading inventory.
McLeod-McCathy said clothing was just the start but eventually the goal is to introduce household items and furniture. All items sold cost no more than $10.
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