A new initiative launching at the Peace Arch Hospice Thrift Store in South Surrey in time for Mother’s Day will showcase the heartfelt talents of volunteers, staff and patrons to help boost funds raised at the shop in support of hospice programs and services.
Handmade with Love was inspired by a volunteer who offered up “beautiful” aprons she’d made, suggesting the store could sell them as possible gifts for the occasion.
The idea sparked excitement, and a flurry of conversation and brainstorming that followed quickly transformed it from an occasional promotion to something that warranted particular feature in the 15562 24 Ave. shop, tags to highlight that the items are a handmade donation to hospice, and a specific button on the cash register to track exactly how much the initiative raises.
“It just started snowballing,” store manager Angelique Robbins said.
“If it goes the way I hope it does, I think it’s something we will keep for a while.”
So far, one-of-a-kind items in the Handmade with Love collection also include crocheted stuffies, a baby outfit, jewelry, keychains, dishcloths, plush blanket animals and carved wooden pencil holders in the shape of cars and elephants.
With a story behind each piece, it is “a reflection of the care, creativity, and connection that defines our hospice community,” a news release states.
Robbins said another positive of the initiative is the opportunity it creates for crafty folks who want to support hospice but are physically unable to volunteer at the store or give cash donations.
“We have a lot of people who used to be volunteers and can no longer do things,” she said. “They have such great things to offer, but sometimes their bodies will let them sit and crochet or knit, or whatever, but not necessarily come in here and donate three hours of time once a week.
“I thought, what a great way of being able to have people feel as a part of it, as belonging to it, as to really contributing to such a great organization.”
Robbins, who has been store manager for the past year – and has called South Surrey home for the past five years – said the initiative “energized me.” She’s even donating her own handmade keychains for the cause.
Pricing for the items will vary, determined by factors including how long they took to make (each apron, for example, is five hours in the making, Robbins noted), as well as the fact they are unique.
“These are craft items, they’re not thrifted items, they’re not used items,” she said.
The initiative is not the first to offer a creative way to donate to a cause, and Robbins predicted the trend of finding alternatives will only increase in the non-profit arena as long as there is uncertainty around what the future holds.
“In this day and age, in this economy, in this time, it’s going to get harder and harder for all of us to have the disposable income to be able to hand a cheque over. These are some of the ways, if they don’t have a cheque, it’s another way to donate to us.”
A formal launch event is being planned for Handmade with Love. The items will be available for purchase starting May 4. Store hours are 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.