Thrift Store
Thrift Store Finds + Community Impact
Whether you are searching for that unique second-hand piece or looking for a place to donate your pre-loved items, you can feel good about supporting the UGM Thrift Stores.
UGM Thrift Stores are social enterprises operated by Union Gospel Mission. UGM provides a low cost retail shopping experience in the Downtown Eastside and a curated thrift boutique in New Westminster that also carries items from local artisans and small businesses. The stores also have an retail internship program that employs individuals who have completed UGM’s recovery programs as well as Sew Together, a program that equips participants with sewing skills to repair and upcycle clothing.
100% of the proceeds of the UGM Thrift Store and Found Thrift Boutique go back into supporting UGM’s life-changing programs and services.
- Moving and have a lot of furniture or clothing to donate? Contact our Distribution Centre at 778.908.0609 or schedule a free pick-up.
- Excess inventory or donations from a business? Contact corporategiving@ugm.ca or 604.215.5441 ext 462 to coordinate your donation.
Thrift Store Donation Guidelines
The UGM Thrift Stores gratefully accept the following new and gently used items:
- Men’s and Women’s Clothing
- Men’s and Women’s Shoes and Accessories
- Jewelry
- Linens (i.e. bedding, towels, curtains)
- Books (see exceptions below)
- CDs, DVDs, Records
- Small Household Items
- Antiques and Collectibles
- Knick-knacks and Seasonal Decorations
- Musical Instruments (see exceptions below)
- Bicycles and Sporting Goods (see exceptions below)
- Coffee tables, Side Tables and Dressers
- Chairs, Recliners and Love Seats
- Baby and Children’s Items
As a guideline, please only donate items that you personally would use or wear.
The UGM Thrift Store does NOT accept:
- Bed Frames and Mattresses
- Large Appliances (i.e. refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, barbeques)
- Large Furniture
- Office Furniture (i.e. desks, cubicles, office chairs)
- Textbooks and Encyclopedias
- Console TVs and Record Players
- Fitness Equipment (i.e. treadmills, benches, weights)
- Ski, Snowboard and Golf Equipment
- Bicycles in poor working condition
- Pianos and Organs
- Unsold items from Garage Sales or Church Sales
- Outdated technology (i.e. electronics 10 years or older including computers, cell phones, printers, fax machines, VCRs, televisions)
Yes, please see our Donation of Items page for more detailed information.
Donation Drop Off & Pick-up Information
Donations are accepted at UGM's South Vancouver Distribution Centre, located at 8346 St. George St., Vancouver, V5X 3S7. The distribution centre receives and processes donations for our retail stores and outreach programs, ensuring our programs can meet the needs of our community members. The Distribution Centre does NOT accept food donations.
For your convenience, there is free parking and two double loading bays around the back alley where vehicles can park to unload their items. You can also ring a doorbell at the front door if you have smaller items to drop off.
UGM Distribution Centre Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00AM-4:00PM (closed on statutory holidays).
Donations are also accepted at UGM’s Vancouver location, located at 601 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, V6A 1J7 during business hours, after hours and on weekends.
- Please note: All donations are processed and inventoried at our Distribution Centre, then distributed to programs across our 10 locations regardless of where the donation was received. Before selling any items that are donated, we check with our program teams to ensure donations are first distributed free of charge to our community members. Items that are not suitable for our programs will be sold at low cost at our Thrift Stores, given to other charities, recycled or disposed.
