OLDS — Nu2U, the town-owned thrift store, slated to close Dec. 22 will survive after all – but will be operated by the Olds & District Hospice Society (ODHS) instead of the town of Olds, through an agreement in principle.
That announcement was made Dec. 15 via a news release.
In an email, ODHS executive director Mary Smith said the precise date when the society will take over operation of the store is still being determined.
“We will know next week more details as the agreement comes together," she wrote.
When that takeover does officially occur, customers and volunteers who work there will likely see very little difference from the town-owned operation, Smith said during an interview with the Albertan.
Smith said the store will remain in the same place.
“We talked to the leasing company and they’re happy to sign a new agreement with the hospice society,” she said.
“They have a heart for hospice and they have a heart for non-profit organizations, so they actually do offer a reasonable rate per square foot.”
Smith said the store will also still operate in the same way, with a manager and volunteers.
"We’re going to lean on the people who know what they’re doing – a lot,” she said.
In fact, Smith said the store might end up being open more hours because it’s anticipated that some ODHS volunteers will work there as well.
However, it may or may not be run by the current manager.
"Because we have our own policies and procedures around hiring practices, we will have a competition for the position out to the community and we’re encouraging the current manager to apply for the position,” Smith said.
The town’s plans to close the store were announced Dec. 5.
Several reasons for the closure were cited, including increasing competition from other thrift stores, poorer quality donations, declining income and a belief that the town should not be competing with private business.
Smith said the society decided to do something when they learned of the town’s closure announcement.
“We were just really disappointed, because we know what a huge community resource Nu2U is,” Smith said.
“It’s not just about the grants they give back to the community. It’s the volunteers that are family at Nu2U. They also offer a safe place for people to come and shop and gather.
“It’s really affordable. They support other organizations like the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society. They help people get back on their feet.”
So the society executive started making some phone calls to learn more about the situation and what could be done.
They took that package to the ODHS board, which voted unanimously on Dec. 14 to do the deal with the town.
Smith said although the society will keep some revenue obtained from the store for its own operations, the plan is to continue Nu2U’s practice of providing grants to other non-profits in the community.
The news release said that over the years, the ODHS has been “the single largest benefactor of Nu2U proceeds, receiving over $100,000 in the last decade.”
Smith said the society has some ideas on how to generate more revenue.
“We're so excited,” Smith said. “It’s such an amazing community resource and we’re a huge proponent of our community. Our whole goal and vision is to support the community at the most we can.
“This I think, is an amazing opportunity and we just really didn’t want to see Nu2U close, so we’re happy to be able to continue to support it.
“And the town is really supportive. They said through our transition they’re going to be there. They’re happy to have a non-profit to take it over.”
“The decision to close sparked many in the community to express their strong affection for Nu2U and highlighted the value some residents see in having such a non-profit volunteer run thrift store in Olds,” the Dec. 15 news release said.
"The town is very pleased a community group has come forward. The Hospice Society’s vision on how this can benefit their existing efforts and their commitment to the mission of Nu2U appears to be a match for success," Doug Wagstaff, the town's community services director wrote in an email.
When news of the planned closure of Nu2U broke, a handful of volunteers and customers wanted to talk to town council about that decision, to express their concerns and disappointment about the decision.
They wrote down their feelings in some documents that were slated to be included on council’s Jan. 9 agenda.
In an email, chief administrative officer Brent Williams confirmed that plans call for Nu2U to be on the agenda that date.
However he’s doubtful that all the letters written will be included – probably just a listing of those documents, because many contain personal information like phone numbers, email addresses and/or home addresses.
Nu2U is on the agenda, but there is no delegation scheduled for Jan. 9, chief administrative officer Brent Williams wrote in an email.
He said the agenda will also likely include “some updated information on our operational costs for Nu2U, which council requested at December’s policies and priorities meeting.”
