THIFT SHOP HOURS:
OPEN: Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. – 10:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
OPEN: Sat. & Sun – 12:00 noon to 2:45 p.m.
CLOSED (ALL DAY) – Fridays and Statutory Holidays
Hours may change as necessary – Call 604-271-1551
NOTE: The Thrift Shop does not accept furniture or large appliance donations.
“We are now charging 25 cents for bags”
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BAGS
& HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT
SHOPS
Revenue from our volunteer-run businesses allows us to support healthcare in Richmond, British Columbia.
RHH AUXILIARY THRIFT SHOP
Located in Steveston (Richmond, B.C) at 3731 Chatham Street (corner of Chatham & Second Avenue), the Auxiliary Thrift Shop is an amazing store, 100% operated by over 100 volunteers from ages 16 to 92! Here you will find gently used clothing for the entire family (also Boutique designer label and vintage), housewares, (dishes, lamps, drapery, linens, knick-knacks), jewellery, books, toys, games, hardware, tools, electronics, sporting goods, craft supplies, pictures, frames and many other wonderful treasures, all at amazing bargain prices. We also offer a wide selection of seasonal items (e.g. Christmas, Halloween and Easter). All merchandise, donated by people in our community, is inspected for good condition – and it changes daily! Proceeds from the Thrift Shop support the purchase of medical equipment and patient programs at Richmond Hospital, Minoru Residence and Lions Manor. The Thrift Shop could not run without the generous donations of all items by the community. We are grateful for this support.
THRIFT SHOP EVENTS
In addition to our everyday low prices,
we feature special sale days announced on our Facebook page and in the Shop!
AUXILIARY SHOPS
Our Volunteer run Gift Shop is in the main lobby of the Richmond Hospital. It offers an assortment of gifts, beautiful flower arrangements, jewellery, clothes, personal care items, snacks, magazines and more.
Gift Shop Hours
Mondays – Fridays: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Contact: (604)278-9711 & ask for Gift Shop
The Lottery Booth, located in the Hospital lobby, is another fundraiser for the Auxiliary and operated by our volunteers. The Lottery Booth carries a full range of BC Lottery tickets.
Lottery Ticket Sales Hours
Mondays – Fridays: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
AUXILIARY TUCK SHOP AT MINORU RESIDENCE
The Tuck Shop at Minoru Residence provides residents with a variety of confectionary products and adaptive clothing. Volunteers also provide invaluable social interaction with the seniors living at the facility.
Contact: (604) 244-5316
VOLUNTEERING
JOIN US! WE NEED YOU! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Reach out and help Develop new skills Meet new friends
Do you have a few hours to spare each week (or even once a month) to volunteer? Volunteers from teens (16) to seniors are needed. You can pick your days, your hours and the place you want to work. Come and join our awesome crew of red coat volunteers! We welcome volunteers who can speak a second language such as French, Mandarin, Spanish, Dutch, etc.
There are many ways you can get involved and be part of our volunteer team!
At the Hospital, our volunteers assist in areas such as: ER, Surgical Day Care, Maternity, Cancer Clinic, Ambulatory, Diagnostic Imaging and Mammography, and as Navigators. They make a difference to hundreds of people every day!
At the Thrift Shop: volunteers sort, price, display merchandise, cashier, interact with customers with a smile, and do a multitude of things. Work shifts are flexible ranging from one or more days a week (or monthly) with 3–6 hour shifts. Its your choice!
The Auxiliary also needs volunteers to operate our Lottery Booth.
At the Tuck Shop located in the Minoru Residence, our volunteers sell an assortment of items for patients.
JOIN THE THRIFT SHOP TEAM!
If you are interested in volunteering at the Thrift Shop, please fill out a Volunteer Application Form available at the link below or visit the shop at 3731 Chatham Street (Steveston) to pick one up.
JOIN THE HOSPITAL TEAM!
If you are interested in volunteering at with the Hospital team contact the Coordinator Volunteer Resources at (604) 278-9711 ext. 4731.
Volunteer form
OUR PEOPLE ~ OUR STORY
BRIEF HISTORY
In the early 1960s, the “Richmond Auxiliary to the Hospital”, later the “Richmond General Hospital Auxiliary” grew from a group of interested citizens with a goal of raising money to assist with the building of a hospital in Richmond. Approximately 16 various Auxiliary subgroups formed across Richmond and conducted a multitude of fundraising activities towards the cost of the building. The Richmond General Hospital opened in 1966 and, over the years, the Auxiliary, now the “Richmond Hospital/Healthcare Auxiliary”, continues to support the hospital.
The Richmond Hospital Healthcare Auxiliary (RHHA), located in Richmond British Columbia, is an accredited member of the B.C. Association of Hospital Auxiliaries (BCAHA).
HOW WE HELP HEALTH CARE
The Auxiliary has more than 440 “red coat” volunteers who donate their time, talent and skills in many areas in the Hospital and at Minoru Residence and Lions Manor, as well as in the operation of the Thrift Shop (in Steveston), Gift Shop, Lottery Booth and Tuck Shop.
In a given month, our Auxiliary members volunteer an average of 2,742 hours per month (that’s a whopping 32,921 hours per year!).
To date, our Auxiliary has donated more than $8 million to enhance healthcare in Richmond.
Some of the funds raised by the Auxiliary are used to help with the purchase medical equipment at the Richmond Hospital through an annual grant. This money has allowed for the purchase of a Cellavision to assist in detecting cancer blood cells, a Vein-Finder Machine to help technicians find difficult veins in patients for blood testing and much more. An important part of our support of healthcare in Richmond is to fund Patient Care Programs. These include a short stay Paediatric Unit, a program to teach patients how to care for themselves on the 3North Sub-acute Unit, Speech, Music and Recreational Therapy, Alzheimer training tools, and a Dental Clinic at Minoru Residence. We have also funded 2 patient buses at the residences for outings, and we fund annual Student Bursaries for students enrolled in healthcare programs so they can continue their education.
EFFECTS OF PANDEMIC SHUT-DOWNS
In the past year, all of our revenue generating venues have been affected by necessary long shut-downs and shortened hours, due to the Pandemic. We (like many others) have seen a huge drop in expected revenue used to fund health-care programs. We would like to assure everyone that we expect to be able to make our commitments to healthcare programs approved, at least for this year. We are hopeful that we will be back to normal in the very near future and that we can continue our funding to those programs who need our help.
PROGRAM SUPPORT
LIONS MANOR BUS
MINORU RESIDENCE BUS
“With funds raised through Auxiliary activities, we have been able to purchase 2 buses to take patients on outings around the city, for Minoru Residence and the Lions Manor.”
MINORU RESIDENCE DENTAL CLINIC
In 2015, thanks to the financial support of the Richmond Hospital/ Healthcare Auxiliary, and in partnership with the UBC Geriatric Dentistry Program, seniors at Minoru Residence and those coming from Richmond Lions Manor, have access to a state-of-the-art dental clinic on-site outfitted with more than $100,000 worth of dental equipment.
HEALTHCARE BURSARIES
Annually, the Richmond Hospital/Healthcare Auxiliary awards bursaries to post-secondary students entering their second or subsequent years of a healthcare program. The bursary program, generated by funds raised by the Auxiliary, was started as a meaningful way to support students who have given significant volunteer hours in a Richmond healthcare facility and are pursuing a career in healthcare.
To be eligible for bursary consideration, applicants must have volunteered a minimum of 40 hours at the Richmond Hospital or an associated long-term care facility. They must also provide references for volunteer work, an Official Transcript of academic marks from a post-secondary institution, a letter indicating future plans, financial need and 3 years of Canadian residency.
For more information and an application form, contact the Coordinator of Volunteer Resources at Richmond Hospital.
Application deadline is July 15th each year.
2022 BURSARY RECIPIENTS
Andy Liu, Yutong (Kelvin) Chen, Charissa Chan, Maryam Momen
THE ENVIRONMENT
AUXILIARY THRIFT SHOP THE ULTIMATE RECYCLER
Thrift stores play a significant role in recycling in more ways than you think. It all begins with the donation of goods brought to us by the public who do their part in helping the environment instead of disposing unwanted items to landfill.
In turn, our Thrift Shop resells donated items, giving them a new life, and through sales we are able to support healthcare initiatives in Richmond. For our customers, buying second-hand clothing and household items eliminates shipping emissions and packaging that would normally go to landfill and it’s a thrifty way to clothe a family with a limited budget.
In cases where the shop is unable to use certain donations, we do our best to recycle what we can by sorting plastics, metal, cardboard, etc. and selling it at a nominal price to recycling companies. We also divert from the landfill by donating un-saleable clothing to third world countries, since we pride ourselves in selling only goods which we consider to be “gently used” and of good quality.
During 2021, our Thrift Shop was able to divert 7,501 kilograms of goods and saved 27.1 metric tonnes of carbon. We also helped save 139 trees, 217,213L of water and 33,609kWh of electricity through our partnership with Urban Impact Recycling Services! And we no longer provide free shopping bags to our customers, asking them to bring their own bags.
Buying from the Thrift Shop follows the main principals of environmental friendliness – recycle and reuse to reduce the carbon footprint– and save money.
A FIRM FOUNDATION ~ RESTORATION
1894
Present
A FIRM FOUNDATION
In 2017, the Auxiliary purchased an historic building in Steveston, BC, for its Thrift Shop, that it had been renting for the past 9 years. Rent was increasing and the fear of re-development of the land or a forced relocation was very real. Situated at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Chatham Street, it is the ideal location for the shop because of its easy accessibility for customers and volunteers.
Built in 1894 as a Methodist Church, the building is the oldest church still sitting on its original site in Richmond. The primary heritage value of the building is its historical association as a church building with the Methodist Indian Mission. Built entirely by volunteer labour, the Mission was deeply committed to working among First Nations peoples in Steveston including Japanese Canadians working in the canning and fishing industries.
Its architectural style reflects the modest early church structures which served Steveston. It is also historically connected to the United Church through the union of several church groups in 1925. Over the years, the building deteriorated. It sat empty for several years and became a bicycle shop for a time before the Auxiliary moved in and turned it into a volunteer-run Thrift Shop, to support the Richmond Hospital and other healthcare programs in Richmond. With the purchase, people in the Steveston/Richmond community were happy to learn that we had purchased 3731 Chatham Street and that our plans were to restore it rather than to see it demolished.
Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include an architectural style that reflects its original use as a church, including its T-shaped plan, front gable roof and façade. Originally, the building had clapboard siding but sometime after 1953 it was covered in stucco. There is a central bell tower and a gable entry porch.
The Auxiliary committed to restoring the building, as much as possible, in 2 phases, without using Monday to Saturday sales revenue. Renovation money in Phase 1 came from newly created Sunday openings, heritage funding donated by the City of Richmond, and generous donations from the community.
The renovation list was long. First, the building needed major foundation work to maintain stability, a new (flat) floor, new electrical, plumbing and heating. PHASE 1 was accomplished during the Covid-19 shut-down. A re-design and painting of the inside was also undertaken by our dedicated volunteers who spent many hours during the mandatory closure to make the re-opening of our Thrift Shop more efficient and attractive to our customers. Notably, our volunteers also donated the funds to purchase paint, fixtures and supplies.
Phase 2 will focus on restoring the outside of the building, when funding becomes available.
The success of our restoration means that this 123-year-old building will remain an important landmark in our community standing as a reminder of Steveston’s past, recognizing also, the history of First Nations and Japanese-Canadians in the community who have walked through its doors for comfort.
Today, the building is being used to enhance healthcare in the Richmond community through the Auxiliary’s significant support to the Richmond Hospital and other healthcare programs, which is equally important.
A replica of our building, built by one of our volunteers, has been very popular with customers coming to our Thrift Shop who wish to make a donation to our renovation.
A Link of our renovation plan is on YouTube at:
“A FIRM FOUNDATION 2018 VERSION”
If you would like to Donate to Richmond Hospital/Healthcare please click the button below.
Options for Donating:
1 – Lyn Peters Memorial Fund
2 – General Funding (including General Memorial )
3 – Restoration
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Richmond Hospital/Healthcare Thrift Shop
3731 Chatham Street (corner 2nd Avenue in Steveston)
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada V7E 2T9
Richmond Hospital/Healthcare Auxiliary Office
7000 Westminster Highway
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada V6X 1A2
Phone: 604-244-5267
News & Events
“GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT”
Thursday Nov. 18/21
For the first time, the Richmond Hospital Healthcare Auxiliary’s Thrift Shop joined with other merchants in Steveston for this year’s annual “Girls’ Night Out” evening, sponsored by the Steveston Merchants’ Association. Despite the weather, it was a huge success!
Thanks to everyone who came out to visit the Thrift Shop (many for the first time) and to our hardworking volunteers who set up and showed the community what a treasure we are.
IN THE MEDIA
The Richmond News, April 2021
Volunteerism remains resilient for Richmond’s Hospital Auxiliary
https://www.richmond-news.com/standout/volunteerism-remains-resilient-for-richmonds-hospital-auxiliary-3634914https://bchealthcareaux.org/richmond-auxiliary-bursaries/
BC Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries News, Sept. 2018
“Richmond Auxiliary Presents Bursaries”
https://bchealthcareaux.org/richmond-auxiliary-bursaries/
The Sentinel, Aug. 30-2018
Hospital Thrift Store Buoyed by Community
http://www.richmondsentinel.ca/Lateststories/4191/hospital-thrift-store-buoyed-by-community
BC Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries News, Dec. 2017
‘This Place Matters’ – Richmond Auxiliary participates in National Competition
https://bchealthcareaux.org/this-place-matters/
Richmond News, June 27-2017
Money abound for Olympic museum, not historic church – Letters to the Editor
http://www.richmond-news.com/opinion/letters/letter-money-abound-for-olympic-museum-but-not-historic-church-1.20796592
Richmond News, June 23-2017
History needs a helping hand – Letters to the Editor
www.richmond-news.com/opinion/letters/letter-richmond-s-history-needs-helping-hand-1.20725423
Steveston Insider, Feb. 2017
A Labour of Love
http://stevestoninsider.com/richmond-hospital-auxiliary-thrift-shop/
Richmond News, Dec.16-2015:
The amazing journey of a stolen Rolex
http://www.richmond-news.com/opinion/letters/letter-the-amazing-journey-of-a-stolen-rolex-1.2134851
Featured Auxiliary Supporters
The Richmond Hospital/Healthcare Auxiliary greatly appreciates the companies who promote our work and events and who support us in other ways:
