Salvation Army thrift shop in Kelowna closes, COVID-19 to blame

 Kelowna's Salvation Army Sutherland Thrift store is shutting its doors.

“These are not easy decisions, and this closure was nowhere on our radar prior to COVID-19,”  Captain Darryl Burry, executive director for the Kelowna Salvation Army said in a media release.

“We want to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, donors and customers, so given the new realities, we must take this step. We will continue to seek out new opportunities and locations for future operations, but in the meantime will continue to provide service via our Rutland Thrift Store.”

The staff at the thrift store located at 1511 Sutherland Ave in Kelowna have been transferred to the main Salvation Army Thrift Store located at 200 Rutland Road South.

All funds raised at The Salvation Army Thrift Store support local programs and services such as the food bank, back to school supplies for children & youth, daily meal programs for the homeless, provision of clothing and household goods to those in need, emergency disaster services, support programs for children, youth and seniors and Christmas food and toy program for families.

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