(Bob Schneider/CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge

New charity thrift store coming to Medicine Hat where ‘The Post’ used to operate

Mar 26, 2024 | 2:54 PM

The Medicine Hat YMCA is planning to open a thrift store in the old location of The Post, a beloved community store that closed last November.

Monday raised through the incoming Y Treasure Thrift Store will be reinvested back into the local charity and aims to provide new volunteer and employment opportunities, similar to what The Post used to do.

YMCA CEO Sharon Hayward said that honouring the Posts’ community legacy is top of mind and that creating a business with social objectives is key to a charity’s wellbeing.

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“I just think that for charities, especially in these times, social enterprise is so important,” Hayward said.

“It gives charities a way to create and earn their own money that they can the reinvest back into programs that aren’t necessarily tied to new grant requirements or criteria,” she said.

“It really helps fill in the gaps where you can’t find in other places.”

“That’s what the Canadian Mental Health Association did with The Post and that’s what well do with the Y.”

The YMCA is not yet prepared to accept donations, but will be doing a targeted campaign in the coming weeks.

Hayward said that community members who qualify and are looking for new volunteer and career opportunities, especially past Post employees, should apply as they become available.