After nearly a year of being closed, Osoyoos’ United Church thrift store finally reopened their doors to the community last week. Just on the first day of reopening, there were over 60 people who poured into the store, eager for new finds.

Since March 13, 2020, the beloved community thrift store was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, and had trouble opening up in their regular space because they didn’t have a washroom and sink to meet safety protocols. In response to this, they decided to shift the thrift store upstairs.

The move was a ton of work, according to Cathie Baskett, acting manager at the thrift store. They had to make a design for the upstairs area while keeping in mind what is downstairs originally and how it can all fit and flow well. Then they moved all their selves, and also had to build additional shelves and storage units. With the entrance being upstairs, the store is now wheelchair accessible too. 

The new space has a certain charm to it. It has sunlight streaming in from the large windows, and a high ceiling which makes it seem quite spacious. 

Baskett explains that the upstairs is in fact smaller. “It just looks bigger than downstairs. Several people said, ‘oh, it’s so much bigger here.’ That’s an illusion…but it’s because the ceiling [upstairs] is high and it’s bright,” she said. 

The church has been getting so many donations lately that the downstairs area which used to be the thrift store is all being used as a storage space. After volunteers sort through the donations, what they can’t use at the thrift store gets donated or given away. The church also has an arrangement with Desert Sun Counselling Centre so that if they ever have a client who needs things, they can call the church to come in and pick up things they need. They also provide things for fire victims who are in need. 

The store is enforcing COVID-19 safety protocols strictly. Only nine people are allowed into the store at a time, and everyone is asked screening questions and given hand sanitizer upon entering.  

Baskett said that locals who are coming in say that they’ve just been waiting to have the place reopen and are thrilled to be back thrifting again. 

The thrift store is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.