United Church bringing back markets

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

The Strathmore United Church is excited to once again begin hosting markets selling donated wares twice a year, launching with a vintage and treasures market this spring.

Arlene Wahl, market coordinator and member of the church, said the upcoming vintage sale will be a little bit different than previous markets, but by fall it’ll be business as usual.

“It’s in the church and we have it usually every time we have a thrift sale. We have it in conjunction and its treasure items,” said Wahl. “They cost a little bit more than your typical garage sale items. They’re a little special like china and silver and lots of really nice vintage items.”

Strathmore United Church was previously unable to host its markets for the past few years due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19. Now that provincial and local restrictions are lifted, they are excited to welcome people back.

Wahl added the church is, at the moment, overstocked with items they intend to sell back into the community, due to a build-up of items over the duration of the pandemic.

“We haven’t had it for a couple years and so we have been storing all of the vintage items up. People donate to us and we have asked them to hold off until we are able to have the sale,” said Wahl “Because of COVID-19, we have not been able to hold a sale in the church and these items are too precious to be outside. Now that we are able to have a sale inside the church, we are going to have it in May.”

Visitors will not be required to don masks when visiting the sale, but the church does request that people sanitize their hands upon entry and numbers of people inside will be limited at any one time.

Wahl expects that folks in the community will be eager to drop in and see what’s up for grabs. She is confident that attendance numbers will not have dwindled despite the time having not hosted an event.

“There are a lot of people who are in need in this town … the vintage sale, the items cost a little more and there’s a fairly specific group who will attend that, but the thrift sale in the fall is a different kind of market and the prices are very reasonable.”

Wahl added that a significant part of the demographic who show up to the thrift sales are young mothers in the community who are shopping for their little ones.

“The community has been waiting and waiting for these sales to start up again,” she said. “It impacts so many people where they can purchase things at a reasonable price and we can give back to the community.”

In the fall, Wahl said the market will be much more extensive, including clothes for all demographics, shoes, purses, home wares, decorations, books, white elephant items, etc.

The church has already begun accepting donations for the thrift sale in the fall. Donations should be in good repair and those who are thinking about sending something in are asked to not send in anything that they wouldn’t be prepared to purchase themselves.

The Vintage and Treasure Sale is scheduled for May 6-7. 

No date has currently been set for the fall thrift sale.