The HL Ministries Thrift Store is back, bigger and better than ever.
After opening in Arborg at 500 River Road in August 2020, the thrift store closed its doors recently for a week to complete some final renovations. The shop’s building project started in 2022 when they realized the need to expand their space. It has been ongoing, with work completed as funds became available.
The local thrift store is an extension of HL Ministries Inc., a non-profit organization focused on encouraging those who are lonely. Julia Penner of the organization’s Manitoba chapter said they have locations across the province, Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Belize.
The shop first opened with the goal of raising funds for its programming. Penner said they had no idea if or how well the new venture would succeed.
“It was hard to imagine filling 2,000 sq. ft. with donated items,” she said. “But we were in for a surprise. This community has rallied together to make our thrift store something really special. The quantity and quality of donations has been incredible.”
The HL Ministries Thrift Store offers something for everyone. It accepts donated household items, clothing, furniture, toys, winter gear, footwear, crafts, books, electronics, and more. The store is restocked daily with new finds for people to take home.
A group of contractors from southern Ontario donated a week of their time to help with the renovation project. Penner said numerous local organizations and businesses donated finances and labour as well, demonstrating the entire community’s support for the cause.
The thrift store has more than doubled in size with the renovations, allowing HL Ministries to make the aisles wider and display more items at once. People can shop at the Arborg thrift shop from Tuesdays to Fridays at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.
HL Ministries also prints and sends out a bi-monthly newsletter called “The Sunshine Paper” to more than 1,800 seniors in Canada. Penner said the newsletter’s purpose is to give the seniors some sunshine by providing them with positive stories, crossword puzzles, recipes, and encouragement from Scripture. The organization also holds banquets for widows across Manitoba and is a Prison Fellowship partner that provides Christmas gifts to children with incarcerated parents in the province.
All money raised at the HL Ministries Thrift Store enables the organization to continue the above efforts and provide discipleship materials for Canadian inmates. To learn more about the shop and be aware of upcoming sales, follow them on Instagram @hlministriesthriftstore.
