Calgary Nonprofit Turns Secondhand into Second Chances
Mission Thrift Store located at 3423 26 Ave SW, Calgary. (Kenzy Jali, CMRU.ca)
Mission Thrift Store isn’t an ordinary thrift shop, it’s a community initiative with both local and global reach. For nearly 30 years, the 100 per cent nonprofit organization has helped Calgarians repurpose used goods, raise funds for world missions and reduce landfill waste.
Store manager Laura Laanstraw, who has led the Calgary location for more than a decade, describes the organization’s beginnings:
“Mission Thrift Store started 35 years ago when two men went to India and saw a huge need for help. They came back to Chilliwack, B.C., started a thrift store and it snowballed. Now we have 52 stores across Canada.”
Mission Thrift Store Transforms Donations into Global Good
Local Impact: Helping Neighbours Year‑Round
Each store works with local community organizations to make sure unsold or recycled items continue to help those in need. Laanstraw says partnerships include Mustard Seed, Calgary Pregnancy Care Centre, and Indigenous outreach programs downtown.
“When an item hasn’t sold, we pull it, but instead of discarding it, we find someone who can use it,” she explains. “For instance, our coats that don’t sell go to men on the streets. Nothing goes to waste.”
These partnerships not only keep people warm but also strengthen the connection between faith‑based service and environmental action.
A Mission That’s Truly Nonprofit
Unlike many commercial thrift chains, Mission Thrift Store operates entirely on a nonprofit model, relying largely on volunteers, nearly 4,950 across Canada. After keeping three months of operating expenses, all other revenue supports Bible League Canada projects in 44 countries, including education and leadership training.
Laanstraw adds that the store’s motto, “Going Green for the Gospel,” links sustainability with spiritual purpose. A government study estimates that for every dollar earned, one pound of material stays out of the landfill. Last year, the Calgary store alone diverted more than 450,000 pounds of waste.
Learn more about the organization’s national mission at Mission Thrift Store’s official website.
Highlights of Mission Thrift Store’s Impact
- 100 per cent nonprofit: all profits support Bible League Canada
- Locally recycled clothing helps shelters and outreach programs
- Nearly 5,000 volunteers create a friendly, community‑first vibe
- Affordable, high‑quality finds and sustainable fashion opportunities
- Every $1 earned = 1 lb. diverted from landfill
Personal Reflection by Kenzy Jali
Working on this multimedia project deepened my understanding of how community‑driven sustainability can truly create change. Watching volunteers interact like family and hearing Laura Laanstraw’s stories made me realize that thrifting is far more than a retail trend, it’s compassion in action.
Laura Laanstraw’s comment that “one volunteer told me volunteering here saved her life” stayed with me. It reminded me that behind every donation and purchase, there’s a network of people finding meaning and belonging.
Creating this video and blog reinforced the importance of purposeful media storytelling. By combining visuals and audio, I hoped to produce content the store can proudly share on social media platforms. I believe this project gives them usable promotional content that communicates their faith, their environmental impact, and their welcoming community.
Personally, I learned to balance professional storytelling with empathy. Listening, respecting voices, and shaping the narrative to highlight genuine impact.
Mission Thrift Thrives on Volunteers
nbsp;
Comments