by SOS District 69 | Jun 9, 2020 | Blog
We are very excited to welcome our Thrift Shop customers and donors back to resume treasure hunting and donation drop-offs on June 15!
Thank you for your continued support and patience as we continue to work through the challenges that have come with the COVID-19 crisis.
Your support is truly appreciated at this time and is helping us provide essential services to our residents. Thank you for helping us keep valuable items out of our landfill, for promoting ethical, sustainable shopping, and for supporting SOS as a local charity dedicated to improving our community.
The health and safety of you and our staff is a top priority to us, so you will notice some changes. Here’s what you can expect on your visit to the Thrift Shop:
Hours
Monday – Saturday, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. These reduced business hours will help us restock the store and maintain enhanced cleaning requirements with just our staff on the premises.
Enhanced cleaning procedures:
We will be cleaning high-touch areas frequently.
In order to limit the spread of viruses, we have added hand sanitizer stations and our staff team will be wearing facemasks.
Important details about shopping:
- Do not enter, if you are sick.
- Wear a mask, if you have one.
- Please use the hand sanitizing stations at the entrance and exit doors.
- Once inside, please follow directional signs.
- Please stay 6 feet away from other shoppers, and staff, at all times.
- All incoming donations have been isolated prior to being put on the sales floor; however, we recommend that you wash and/or sanitize your purchases.
- Please avoid touching merchandise unless you intend to purchase the item.
- Change rooms and washrooms are closed for your safety.
- Tap debit and credit transactions are preferred; please avoid using cash.
- New shopping bags will be provided. Sorry, we will not be handling or using reusable bags.
- We are limiting the number of shoppers for your safety. Please limit your visit to 20 minutes so that other customers have the opportunity to shop. Please help us ensure everyone gets a chance to come in and find some treasures.
- Sorry, there are no deliveries available.
Important details about Thrift Shop donations:
- If possible, please hold off on dropping donations as we are anticipating an influx of donations that will overwhelm our capacity to process them.
- Drop off your donations during opening hours, 9:30 – 3:30, Monday – Saturday.
- Sorry, no furniture or large appliances will be accepted for donation at this time due to our limited capacity to store isolated donations.
- Please ensure your items are clean and in working order.
- Please maintain a distance of 6 feet from SOS employees.
- Sorry we are not able to pick up donations at this time.
Thank you again for your patience as we do our best to operate in this new normal. We are looking forward to seeing your happy faces again as you discover fantastic bargains!
SOS could not continue providing community support without valued supporters like you. Thank you for helping us ensure that everyone has a safe, enjoyable shopping experience at the best Thrift Shop on the Island.
by SOS District 69 | Jun 9, 2020 | Blog
SOS continues to take care of local seniors through the COVID-19 crisis thanks to support from the community and our partners.
“Without my prescription I can’t sleep at night, I have terrible nightmares,” said Valdis, a SOS Seniors’ Advocacy Services (SAS) client. “I’ve got other medications that are covered by PharmaCare, but that particular medication isn’t, and I just didn’t have the coin to buy it.”
Valdis was able to purchase his medication after speaking with Seniors’ Advocacy Services Coordinator Dawn Barry.
Recently, SOS received a $5,000 grant for the SAS program from the United Way Central & Northern Vancouver Island’s COVID-19 Seniors Response Fund, funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
SOS Seniors’ Advocacy Services provides assistance to seniors over the phone, emergency vouchers for food and medicine, it helps residents access various government benefits, and more.
Heather accessed the program after her car broke down and she was dealing with health issues. “If I didn’t get that help, I’d probably be living on the street,” she said. “I’ve lost weight and I’d probably be in the hospital or something. That little bit of help goes a long way. Programs like this are very essential. ”
If you are a local (District 69) senior and need support, call SOS at 250-248-2093.
by SOS District 69 | May 25, 2020 | Blog
SOS has restarted the Income Tax program. Thanks to community support, SOS continues to offer a number of essential services to local residents. Low income residents who need assistance filing basic tax returns can now call SOS at 250-248-2093 to set up a virtual tax appointment. SOS Coordinator Elizabeth Nicol discussed the program with 88.5 The Beach radio host Dave Graham over the phone. Click here to listen to that interview, which also discusses the other essential services we are providing residents at this time. If you would like to help keep SOS essential services available, please donate to our Grateful Hearts campaign through our website by clicking here or call us. Thank you!
by SOS District 69 | Apr 29, 2020 | Blog
Renowned local artists Ken Kirkby and Nana Cook are fundraising to help SOS distribute food to neighbours in need. The fundraiser features 50 works of art by the two artists, selling for a fraction of the cost they would normally be sold for. All pieces in the fundraiser cost $500, and 50% of the proceeds will come to SOS. Work by these artists generally range from $1,000 to upwards of $5,000. To view the art on the artists’ Facebook page, click here.
by SOS District 69 | Apr 17, 2020 | Blog
Please click here or on the heart below to open a larger version with cut lines. Thank you for your support!
by SOS District 69 | Apr 9, 2020 | Blog
Despite the closure of our Thrift Shop due to COVID-19, and the lost revenue that we count on every month to fund our operations, thanks to community support, we are still able to offer essential services to our most vulnerable residents. If you’ve made a financial donation, we thank you!
If you are a District 69 resident struggling to buy food or medicine, call us at 250-248-2093. Seniors who need help with their grocery shopping can contact us. Residents who need counselling services can call to access our Counselling Referral program, which will connect them with a professional counsellor online. Our vital Meals on Wheels program continues to deliver nutritious meals. We are continuing Friendly Visiting with seniors over the phone, and we are calling to check in on senior clients regularly. Our work with the Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness continues to help individuals experiencing homelessness with supplies and housing emergency assistance.
We’re here to help as long as our funds allow. If you can make a financial donation to help your neighbours in need, donate to our Grateful Hearts campaign by clicking here. Your help can’t wait! #sosgratefulhearts #unityincommunity
