Caledon Community Services’ Evolve Caledon thrift store celebrates six years

May 31, 2023 · 0 Comments

Ontario Trillium Foundation grant helped store get through pandemic

By Zachary Roman

Last Friday, Caledon Community Services marked a milestone for its thrift store, Evolve Caledon.

On May 26, Caledon Community Services (CCS) welcomed Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones to Evolve in Bolton, both to celebrate the store’s sixth anniversary and to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a $162,100 grant received during the pandemic.

Michelle Veinot, CCS’ Director of Community Resources, said she was proud of the way Evolve Caledon made it through the pandemic thanks to a strong staff and volunteer team.

“Along the way, we partnered with some amazing community stakeholders and organizations,” said Veinot. “The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is a shining example of foundational support that has allowed us to build capacity for future sustainability for our store.”

She thanked everyone that’s supported Evolve Caledon along the way, including the store’s customers. The money from every purchase at Evolve Caledon goes right back into the community through CCS’ many initiatives like Kidz in Caledon and food support at the Exchange.

Jones said the pandemic has shown people that resilience is not just a word, and that it was impressive how CCS was able to evolve to serve the Caledon community — pun intended. She said it was important to note that a volunteer board makes decisions on all OTF grants and thanked the board for its hard work.

Angela Panacci, a member of the OFT board, said she was extremely proud to be in attendance at Evolve Caledon’s sixth anniversary. She explained the OTF’s goal is to build healthier and more vibrant communities all across Ontario.

“We’re proud to support organizations like yours… congratulations,” said Panacci.

Incoming CCS CEO Geraldine Aguiar was also at the event, and said a few words to those in attendance. She said Evolve Caledon is the largest revenue generator for CCS and that in the last year alone it’s raised over $500,000 for CCS.

“The sale of every item in the store, it all goes to support the important work that we do,” said Aguiar.

That’s why when the pandemic hit, it was worrisome for CCS.

Aguiar said while it was a difficult time, it allowed CCS to rethink and redesign parts of its retail business. Aguiar said the OTF grant was a lifeline for CCS during hard times.

“The funding they provided assisted us with staffing and volunteer engagement, obtaining professional guidance, purchasing equipment and program supplies… to merge our two stores into this one beautiful store, and also a separate donation sorting hub, in addition to our new e-commerce platform,” said Aguiar.

She said CCS is very grateful to the OTF for helping it build a better retail destination, which in turn helps CCS support the most marginalized people in Caledon.

Those interested in shopping at Evolve Caledon can visit its website at evolvecaledon.com or its retail location at 4 Industrial Road in Bolton.

To donate items to Evolve Caledon, those interested can visit the donation sorting hub at 109 Industrial Road in Bolton.