The Thrift Shop and the Church

By Josie Bannerman

The James Bay United Church Thrift Shop was started 29 years ago during the heyday of social activism in James Bay which saw the Community Project, New Horizons, the Community School Centre, the Neighbourhood Association and even a forerunner of The Beacon take root.

The Thrift Shop is located in an old house right next door to the church on Michigan Street. Retired minister Don Hume said the house was originally purchased with the idea of supporting a youth group. When this didn't happen, some of the women in the congregation decided to open a Thrift Shop.

Edna Dickenson, a long time volunteer at the Thrift Shop, said that in the early days of operation, Thrift Shop sales of $100 a week were a cause for celebration. During 2013, the church's annual report shows the Thrift Shop generated sales of about $43,000 for the year. It has become a very successful operation.

Over time, the church and the Thrift Shop have grown apart. Most of the volunteers who ran the shop were not members of the congregation, and the church left responsibility for the shop to its volunteers.

During the last year, things began to change. As one of its priorities, the church board decided to assume control over the Thrift Shop, close its bank account, and roll revenue directly into the main church account. They offered volunteers an opportunity to help shape the future of the shop, but this was not well received. By now, volunteers had a well-oiled machine in place that made good money for the church - and some for the community as well - and they weren't inclined to tinker with it.

However, the church had the high ground. It is after all, their Thrift Shop, and they carried on with plans to incorporate it into the same operating format as their other ministries, which for the most part don't directly generate revenue.

Just before Christmas, in a final attempt to put forward their vision of the shop as a force for helping the needy in the community, leadership of the Thrift Shop made donations to a number of local charities and services that exceeded their spending limit. While this was not the first time donations had exceeded the limit, it was the first time it did so in a big way.

The church responded by asking most of these organizations to return the money. Although Minister Karen Dickey said it was not intended, the letter the church sent to recipient organizations impugned the reputation of the Thrift Shop leadership, and aired church business that outsiders didn't need to know.

Reactions in the community are mixed.

Don Elkey, Recreation Coordinator at the James Bay Care Centre, one of the organizations asked to return the donation said: "My concern is not about returning the money as requested. ...My concern is for the dignity of those hard working, honest individuals who have gone about the business of maintaining the thrift store operation for many, many years. ...These were individuals who gave of their hearts, and labour for their church and community."

Darcy Topinka, coordinator at the James Bay Community School, said his organization was not asked to return their donation, but rather was put on notice that this may be the last year they receive it. "We have a longstanding relationship with the Thrift Shop and have received support from them for many years for the 15-seat van we use in our after school program," Topinka said. "We are happy to have a donation if the organization is able to give it."

But indications are that the church is no longer inclined to share Thrift Shop revenue.

Margaret Lunam, director of communications and outreach for the church said: "We imagine that the James Bay United Church Thrift Shop will continue to be known as an integral part of this community ... and a source of funding to support the other ministries of the church."