Fort St. John Thrift Stores: Where to Shop and Donate

Illustrative stock image; not a Fort St. John store. Photo by Fujiphilm on Unsplash

Clearing out a closet, hunting for a bargain or just seeing what turns up? Fort St. John has a few secondhand stops worth knowing about.

Before you load the car, there’s one thing to check: shopping hours and donation hours aren’t always the same. One local outlet doesn’t take donations at all.

Here’s where to start, based on published shop information rather than firsthand reviews. A quick check before a special trip can save you some running around.

Fort St. John MCC Thrift Shop

At 10520 100 Street, MCC lists shopping hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with Sunday closed.

Donation intake runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Wednesday is a shopping day but not a donation day.

So if you’re taking bags along on a Wednesday shopping trip, save the drop-off for another day.

Check the shop’s current listing or call 250-787-9783 before bringing furniture, a large load or anything you are unsure it accepts.

MCC’s local business profile describes clothing, household goods, seasonal supplies and craft materials, although any particular find depends on donated stock.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store

The Salvation Army’s local store is at 10116 100 Avenue, with listed shopping hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Its local office lists the store’s telephone number as 250-785-0506, extension 3.

BC 211 describes gently used clothing, household goods, books and media, working electronics, bedding and linens among the store’s offerings.

BC 211 separately lists donation drop-off from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; confirm that intake schedule directly before loading up.

As with any thrift stop, what you find depends on what’s come in. Leave yourself a little browsing time rather than counting on one particular item.

Lakeside: shopping in town, donations in Charlie Lake

Lakeside Outlet lists its Fort St. John location at 9135 96A Street, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and closed Sunday.

Shopping there is fine, but keep this in mind before packing the car: the Fort St. John outlet does not accept donations.

Lakeside’s Charlie Lake Thrift & Consignment shop lists regular hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with donations accepted at the back door during shop hours.

For the Charlie Lake shop’s current address and directions, check directly with Lakeside before travelling.

Hoping to sell something through consignment? Ask about acceptance, fees and terms first; it works differently from donating.

Another place to donate

The Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society lists donation drop-off at the back door of 9912 96th Avenue, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Its Outreach Store serves clients rather than general shoppers. Call 250-787-1121 to find out what’s needed before bringing donations.

Make the trip worthwhile

For shopping, take measurements, inspect seams and zippers, and check the condition of anything electrical before buying.

For donating, pack clean, usable goods and ask first about bulky items, damaged pieces or anything needing special handling.

Wait until donations are being accepted rather than leaving bags outside after hours.

Regular hours can change for holidays or operational reasons, so check directly before a dedicated trip, especially around November 11.

Whether you come home with a find or a little more space in the closet, a quick call first will help you make the most of the trip.