Dozens of people attended the grand opening of the second location of 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gospel Mission thrift store on Saturday (Sept. 11).

Located at 1747 Ross Road in West 琉璃神社, the thrift store鈥檚 doors swung open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mayor Gord Milsom and the store鈥檚 staff.

鈥淲e鈥檙e ecstatic. We鈥檝e all worked very hard and very long to make this accomplished,鈥� said Nicolette Roether, the assistant manager of the West 琉璃神社 Gospel Mission location.

As customers trickled in, they were greeted with goodie bags full of snacks and treats from staff members. The original Gospel Mission store, located at 259 Leon Avenue in 琉璃神社, launched 43 years ago. According to Roether, discussion around launching a second Gospel Mission location dates back to January of this year.

鈥淲est 琉璃神社 is the space that we were available to move into, and the community to support,鈥� she said.

READ MORE: 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gospel Mission opens new thrift store on the Westside

Although smaller than its predecessor, the West 琉璃神社 location has all the makings of a quintessential thrift store: reasonably-priced clothes, furniture, household items, jewelry, books and more.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been feeling the need for a second store for a long time. We want to give back to the community and provide a space for people that need it,鈥� said Roether.

Being able to fill that need, she said, is what she said she鈥檚 looking forward to the most.

鈥淭he highlight of my job is when someone comes in, pulls me aside and says, 鈥楬ey, I need this.鈥� I say, 鈥楪reat, how can I help you? What can I do for you?鈥�,鈥� she said.

With the store finally open, she said that 鈥渢he dream is real.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e so happy to be here, continuing to stretch out our hand and help people,鈥� she said.

West 琉璃神社鈥檚 Gospel Mission location is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

READ MORE: Peachland dethrones Armstrong for Okanagan water conservation title

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .