PHOTO Managers Jaylene Batten and Naomi Kroeker, along with Sydney Jordan, Amanda Vanags and Coralee Archibald were on hand to welcome people when the new ICR Thrift Store opened Sept. 25. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance)
International Christian Response (ICR) has its roots in Switzerland 46 years ago and has its Canadian base in Langley.
To help raise funds for the work it does in trouble spots around the world, the organization has expanded its Langley thrift shop operations.
On Sept. 25, the second local location opened, in the former Bibles for Missions site, 200th Street and 57th Avenue.
It’s had a shop at 5786 203rd St. for a few years. That store will have a smattering of goods but will mainly be baby and kids items, including larger items as well as themed sales. Nov. 1 it becomes a Christmas store.
The first store was about 2,400 square feet. The new store adds another 6,200 square feet.
Manager Jaylene Batten explained that the new store has a boutique section to give people a unique shopping experience, a vintage corner, furniture, clothing, housewares, sporting goods and more.
“It’s not high end but nicer stuff consolidated in one area,” she said of the boutique.
A key feature is the wheelchair accessibility which includes a wheelchair accessible bathroom. Batten noted that’s important because the store wants people to be able to shop and has volunteers in wheelchairs.
The official grand opening is Oct. 17 and will have an autumn/harvest theme.
ICR is the Canadian branch and works with HMK of Switzerland, an organization founded in 1969. There is also organizations in the United Kingdom and United States.
These groups provide support for Christians in areas of the world where they are persecuted, using people in those nations to help get the support to who needs it. The pastors and others in the countries have been screened.
They are working in nations such as Cuba, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Vietnam and North Korea.
The shop will be open 9:30 a.m. and operates until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 3:30 p.m. Saturdays. It’s closed Sundays and holidays.
Learn more about ICR at www.christianresponse.ca.
PHOTO Mel Wiebe is the director of International Christian Relief, a Langley-based organization that helps Christians persecuted in other lands. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance)