By Karen Martin-Robbins
If you walk down Mill Street in Orangeville this summer, you may notice some bins outside the new Once Loved Thrift Boutique filled with free clothing.
These “community love bins” are for anyone who needs or wants the items – no questions asked.
It’s just one of many ways shop owner Rebecca Casey is giving back to the community.
“My store is not very big, get a lot of doubles of things,” she said. “I’ve thrifted my whole life, and I know some families can’t afford to even thrift. That’s why my price range (in the store) goes from $3 to $50, but also, I can’t put everything I get out onto the floor as well, and it’s good stuff.”
So, without an eye to capitalism at all, Casey puts her extras in the community bins so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill.
“We live in a wasteful society, which is sad, but true. This way it goes back to the community. We’re recylcing with each other.”
Casey always dreamed of owning a thrift store, a love sparked in childhood during shopping trips with her mom.
When her mom passed away recently, the former Chrysler worker realized, “Life is too short.” She left her job and opened Once Loved Thrift Boutique, fulfilling a long-held dream.
“This is my calling,” she said.
The boutique opened in downtown Orangeville in early December and quickly became more than just a store.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” Casey said. “We’ve met so many people in the community – people who feel like family now. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience.”
In addition to the free clothing bins, Casey is committed to supporting the Orangeville SPCA.
She keeps a cash box in the store to collect donations, and often encourages customers to pay with cash so it can be added to the total for the shelter.
She also collects blankets and unopened, unexpired pet food. While the shelter doesn’t feed donated food to animals in its direct care, it runs a pet food bank – free for anyone that needs it.
Helping the SPCA was an easy decision, Casey said, because she grew up surrounded by animals.
“They have my heart,” she explained.
Once Loved Thrift Boutique is located at 21 Mill Street.
The shop gives in-store credit for donations of home décor, adult fashion and accessories.
Serving the community as well, Casey’s husband runs, “I’ll Gofer It” a delivery service that caters to big and small needs and delivering them directly to the client. He also picks up donations for Once Loved Thrift Boutique in Dufferin County for free. Reach out to him at: illgoferit.ca