Let’s Chat: Thrift happens

By Linda Tooth on February 5, 2025.

I want to follow up with an article I wrote in October regarding my love of thrifting. Remember, thrifting is “the activity of looking for or buying goods from thrift stores or other places that sell used things such as clothes, books, or furniture,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary.

I mentioned I wanted to get to the new Y Treasure Thrift Store located on Third Street in downtown Medicine Hat, and I have done it. This nonprofit organization is part of the YMCA of Southeastern Alberta.

I decided to explore this location on a Saturday morning and there were people looking for bargains, so I joined them. I did not tell the staff I had recently taken the position of director of philanthropy for the YMCA of Southeastern Alberta.

I wanted to go incognito and discover how the staff interacted with customers, what kind of merchandise they have for sale and just get a general sense of the environment. If you are thrifty, you will remember this as the location for the Post Thrift Store, which Canadian Mental Health operated prior to closing shop in our city.

The space is open and inviting. I browsed through the bags, purses and jeans sections, and then ventured over to the book section.

You can get a book for $1. I bought four things for a total of $14.

I recently had a positive comment on my new-to-me used purse, and I proudly told the person it cost me $4 and that I had purchased it from the Y Treasure Thrift Store.

The front-end staff and volunteers are welcoming and happy to be working at the store. The donation staff are also happy to talk to you and are thankful for your donations.

If you are a fan of spy and military novels you will want to get down to the store. My partner has just donated shelves of books from our house, which thankfully has now created more space for the books that I bring home.

This thrift store is the first for YMCAs in Canada, with proceeds going to help programs within our community. It is a great feeling to know we are helping to support anyone, regardless of age or financial standing, who wants to access programs and services offered at the Y.

We as a community need to do more to help those we call our neighbours. Consider going downtown and checking out the Y Treasure Thrift Store on Third Street.

This nonprofit ‘treasure’ would love to see you.

Have a Meowtastic Day and keep reading!

Linda Tooth is a part-time communications instructor at Medicine Hat College

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