Taking on the role of manager at the WCSS Re-Use-It Centre has been quite an adventure. The month of May – my first month – was epic to say the least. I entered the store at the busiest time of the year. Spring cleaning and the 1000’s of seasonal workers leaving town made for some mind blowing donations. At times I wondered if we could be buried alive! And although the donations continue to pour in in record numbers (thank you Whistler!) I finally have my footing and am getting down to the business of running this important place.
We have two important roles; to support those in need by raising funds for Whistler Community Services Society (WCSS) programs/services and to promote sustainability. At the Chamber of Commerce Business Awards night a couple weeks back WCSS won the Sustainability award. It was very cool, because it was the first big high five for the sustainability side of what we do. Before managing this store I was not a regular to thrift shops but I decided to fully embrace the spirit of the award and go as the Re-Use-It girl! I shopped off the rack at the store for my outfit (photo above). Dress - $15, earrings - $4, necklace - $3, handbag - $3, wrap - $5. I did the same for the Oysterfest at the Bearfoot Bistro. Pants - $6, top - $3.75, ring - $2, bra - $3.50. I loved my outfits!
I am a true Re-Use-It Centre advocate now! This place rocks! And it is amazing how many rumours are circulating out there that aren’t just true. So as the new manager, I need to set the record straight on a few of those Re-Use-It myths.
1. The Employees get all the good stuff. Nope! Not even close to being true. In the month of May we processed 2219 garbage bag equivalents of donations. In June it was 2443 bags. That is a lot of stuff! And consequently a lot of great stuff! If the employees did in fact get all the good stuff, they would essentially have moved the Re-Use-It Centre to their homes. Not something any of us want. Sure there are perks to this back breaking work, in that we get to see everything before it goes on the floor, but we all exercise a great deal of restraint when deciding what we purchase to take home. We gotta love it!
2. We’re Expensive. Sure our primary role is to fund the many important social programs in Whistler, but we are still a business. And it would be just plain silly of us not to do our best to remain competitive in the discounted retail environment. So we price check our competition regularly. This includes Consignment and Thrift shops in Squamish and Vancouver as well as Walmart and the dollar stores. Ask us about it next time you are in the store.
3. What about all those TV’s? Here is the myth busted about all those TV’s wrapped up outside. We’re not taking them home! They’re broken! We have a very success recycle program whose proceeds are becoming important contributors to all those programs we support. Actually you can bring down pretty much any electronic thing with a cord and we can put it into its proper recycling spot. That goes for your lights, bulbs & drinking bottles too. When you recycle with us you support your community.
4. We throw things away. Ok we do! Not a lot, but we do. Of the 2219 bags of donations we got in May, 235 of those went into the land fill. Along with all the great things that come in, we do get garbage – broken things, ripped, torn or unusable items that just don’t qualify for our store or our charitable partners. We even get people’s garbage (we hope by accident) every once in a while. But don’t you think it’s pretty amazing that of the 2219 bags of donations only 235 went into the land fill?
The health of our community depends on the success of the Re-Use-It Centre. Thank you for your support Whistler – be it as a donor or a shopper. We love seeing the smile on your face when you offer your spring cleaning donations to our receivers or when you find that perfect ‘treasure’ for a fraction of its real cost!
Cheryl Skribe – Manager, Re-Use-It Centre,Whistler
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Thanks for your comments. You can also email WCSS office: admin@mywcss.org, Re Use It Centre: reuseit@mywcss.org or Re Build It Centre: rebuildit@mywcss.org.