Kamloops thrift store distributing ‘kindness kits’ to the homeless, seniors

Oct 19, 2017 | 1:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops thrift shop has come up with a unique way to help out the city’s homeless and senior populations in need.

Second Chances Thrift Store, located on Victoria Street downtown, is distributing ‘kindness kits.’ The kits cost donors $5 each and contain at least $50 worth of clothing, including a pair of jeans, socks, two shirts, a sweater or a hoodie.

Spokesperson Bonnie McBride says all proceeds from the sale of the kits go to the BC SPCA.

“We started producing the kits when it was clear that we had far more clothing donated to the thrift store than we were ever going to be able to display inside. So, we came up with this as a way to make sure that those contributions were supporting the animals, which is what the donors wanted, but that we were keeping them in the community and doing something good with them.”

She says it’s the first year they’ve handed out the kits and notes it coincides with the onset of colder weather. McBride says the kits have been a hit with customers.

“Absolutely. We’ve been selling 25 to 30 a week. I think the people who purchase the kits have been exicted about supporting the animals and getting good quality clothing out to the community. The kits are done quite nicely so that they look almost like a gift. Our volunteers sort them by size and make sure they are of good quality so when they are handed out to someone, it’s exactly what they need to wear that day. It’s been success because it’s done in a respectful way.”

And starting today, McBride says they are expanding the kidness kits to city’s seniors population as well.