Langley’s Penny Pincher Thrift Shop – run by volunteer members of the Langley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary – has been around for more than 40 years, and all proceeds benefit the hospital.
Volunteer Joanne Thomson calls herself one of the “fairly new” volunteers, as she’s been there for just a few years.
The 67-year-old lives in Langley City, and said she didn’t want to stay home after retiring.
“There reaches a point where we get older – I retired, lost my spouse, and so I looked around for something. I wasn’t ready to just sit at home. I looked for something meaningful to me. I was impressed one hundred per cent of money raised goes to the hospital. No one is paid here, so that was important to me.”
Another reason for donating her time to volunteering at Penny Pinchers is more simple.
“Every family uses the hospital sooner or later,” she added.
“The government can’t fund all the things a hospital needs, and Penny Pinchers is proud of the hundreds of thousands of dollars they’ve raised over the years.” Thomson added.
During her career, Thomson worked at her and her husband’s construction company, and at an office in Surrey.
Now at Penny Pinchers, Thomson works about 12 to 15 hours each week.
“It’s a commitment, but it doesn’t have to be a big time commitment. Penny Pinchers asks for a minimum of four hours per week, so that’s what I started with but it’s grown. It depends on each person.”
Prior to Penny Pinchers, Thomson didn’t volunteer, as life was busy with raising her two children and working.
“I think it [volunteering] keeps you mentally active as well as physically. I think it’s good for your soul.”
Thomson is one of the Penny Pinchers committee members, meaning she takes on a supervisory role to the other volunteers.
“My job is to supervise, security check, open up for business during the day and at the end of the day. We also make sure the finances are counted correctly, and make sure everything balances.”
Thomson said the people are the reason she continues to volunteer each week.
“It’s the people and the common goal. It’s very inspiring to see the wide range of personalities, and ages, yet we’re all working for the same thing.”
She added more than 200 people volunteer at Penny Pinchers, so she hasn’t met them all.
According to Thomson, the store sees a “wide variety” of donations.
“It adds spice to our life.”
“We try not to refuse anything. But there are some odd things. There’s lots of treasures that come through too.”
Thomson explained the “treasures” are considered high-end items, and will sometimes be things such as jewelry, and artwork.
She added the community “should be proud of” the amount of donations they give to Penny Pinchers.
“I appreciate it – and I hope everyone does – that they choose us.”