By Thomas Smith

One person’s trash is another’s treasure.

But how are you supposed to find that treasure before it ends up in the landfill?

That is the goal of SIRCH Community Service’s Thrift Warehouse. To give items a new life before they are buried in the dump, never to be seen again.

Over 15 years ago, local businessman Ted Scholtes had the idea to open a warehouse filled with gently used items. SIRCH has been managing the thrift warehouse for the past decade.

Profits from the sale of the items goes towards programs that support vulnerable families, seniors, and other people in the community.

The Thrift Warehouse is more than just finding great deals. It is a lifeline, social hub, and an environmentally-conscious hidden gem of Haliburton County.

Items first come into the Thrift Warehouse through their large bay door. Gracious donors often line up along the road in the mornings before they are even open. A sign shows a list of rotating items that the thrift store is not accepting, either due to seasonality or their abundance of current stock.

Community impact starts at the hands of SIRCH’s Sarah Parish, Trevor Comeau, or Mitchell Van Oosterhout, the three stars of the receiving floor. If you have donated an item to the Thrift Warehouse, you have been greeted with a welcoming smile and a polite thank you for your donation. Every donation is assessed by a staff member to ensure that the quality of the donation meets the standards they have set for their customers.

After donations are accepted, staff sort and clean them (if needed). Items like mason jars can be cleaned and put directly on the shelf. Other houseware items such as cutlery and cups can also be sent right out on the sales floor. Rare and unusual items are researched before they are labelled with an appropriate sticker price.

Electronics and fabrics receive additional attention after entering the warehouse. Every electronic device is thoroughly tested to ensure that it is working. With every type of power cord and video game console controller imaginable, Nick Pamplin is in charge of ensuring that everything works.

A summer student and guitar enthusiast, Pamplin loves the surprise that awaits him every day while working for SIRCH. A lover of older music, Pamplin gets excited every time he gets to try out a CD or cassette before it is sold. From Stratocaster guitars to old P.A. systems, Pamplin says that he has seen every type of media and electronics he can think of.

While he has not had many jobs, Pamplin says that he loves how everyone at SIRCH works as a team and helps each other out when needed.

Beyond the electronic testing area, Payton Somers is in charge of sorting, cleaning, and deodorizing all fabrics and clothing that is donated. Using an industrial dryer, fabrics are treated to kill off anything unwanted and make them have a neutral smell. Previously working as the store’s cashier, Payton is fascinated by the variety of items that come through the warehouse’s doors.

Payton says that her favourite part of working with SIRCH is the people that come through the doors. Every customer has a story to share and she loves to hear them.

When items are ready, they are priced and are loaded into carts and rolled out to the sales floor. Every item has its area, whether it is electronics, housewares, books, hardware, beds, artworks, or records.

After you find a hidden gem for sale, there is a good chance that the person cashing you out is Carole Kester, the warehouse manager. Every morning, Kester gets to the store at 8:30 a.m. to clean up, unlock the doors, and get the store ready for the day.

For those curious what their most in-demand items are, Kester says that DVD players, microwaves, fridges, washers, dryers, and stoves do not last long on the sales floor.

Walking through the store, everyone has a smile on their face and their eyes dart around, taking in every sight, searching for a treasure.

Approaching one treasure hunter, he says that he takes his family every week to the Thrift Warehouse.

“We come up every week when we are up for the cottage,” said loyal customer Peter Hanlon. “Their prices are fantastic.”

All items are priced at an accessible level, to ensure dignity and affordability. The labour needed to keep the store stocked, operation costs for the warehouse, opportunity to support SIRCH’s charitable programs, and the value of items all contribute to the deal you are getting.

Another highly satisfying part of the job is when staff are able to create packages for those in need, says Kester.

With the intense heat this summer, the Thrift Warehouse has had to close early several times. Fortunately, owner Scholtes installed air conditioning in the store on Aug. 18.

Annually, SIRCH diverts over 100,000 cubic feet of items away from landfills each year. With 89 per cent of every dollar going towards SIRCH’s other community programs, know that your next shopping spree contributes directly to food security, educational programs, warming kits, and the ability to bring some ease to those experiencing a moment of crisis.