A local non-profit that raised $10,000 for extra programs at low-income Burnaby schools last year is thrilled sales at its thrift store are holding steady after a move at the end of July.
The BASES (Burnaby Association of South East Side) Family Thrift Store, once located on Kingsway between 14th and 15th avenues, has moved to 7825 Edmonds St.
“We are absolutely astounded because our sales have not dropped, and August tends to be a pretty soft month anyways, and our sales have been keeping par with what we were doing in the old location,” BASES president Peggy Woodruff told the NOW. “In the retail world you kind of anticipate that sales will drop until your customers actually find you again, so we’re very very happy about that.”
BASES was founded in 2010 to help fund extra programs at Edmonds, Stride Avenue, Twelfth Avenue and Morley elementary schools, along with Byrne Creek Secondary, where many students come from low-income, new immigrant and refugee families.
The $10,000 BASES gave out last year went toward things like basketballs for a girls’ program at Twelfth Avenue, after-school snacks at Morley, a bike-repair program at Edmonds and a book giveaway in June. Woodruff expects her non-profit will be in a position to give away even more money this year because of thriving thrift store sales.
“The store is just going so well,” she said.
The new building, 300 square feet bigger than the Kingsway facility, has more foot traffic and a bus stop right out front, so Woodruff expects sales to continue growing.
BASES will accept funding proposals from the southeast schools in September and announce another funding disbursement in November. An official grand opening for the new BASES Family Thrift Store is set for Saturday, Sept. 26.
See basesburnaby.ca.
