Our Story
The Giving Closet Thrift Shop opened on November 20th, 2018. The store was started by Crown Point Community Church with the goal of blessing our local community and the larger City of Hamilton. Store profits are used to meet community needs and support amazing local organizations and projects.
When we were planning and dreaming about opening the store, we thought we would start small with a space around 5000 square feet, but instead, we were delighted to find our space at 1162 Barton St E at around 16,000 square feet. The building was previously a banquet hall and came with chandeliers and lots of character. We often hear from our customers what a unique, warm and inviting space it is. We currently rent, but we would love to buy someday.
We called the store The Giving Closet Thrift Shop, because giving is the heart and core of what we do.
The Giving Closet building in 2011, before it became The Giving Closet.
The Faces of The Giving Closet
Rob Matheson
Manager
We are blessed to have Rob as our Store Manager. He works hard behind the scenes and in the store to ensure a good experience at The Giving Closet. Rob is a passionate, caring and creative person and is always willing to lend a helping hand or a listening ear. He cares about each and every person that comes into The Giving Closet Thrift Shop. Please thank him for all that he does when you see him next!
Liana Brown
Managing Director & Volunteer Coordinator
Liana, along with her husband Jason, co-lead the team that opened The Giving Closet, and she has continued to be actively involved as the shop's Managing Director and Volunteer Coordinator. Liana is a lifelong thrifter with a passion for helping others and building relationships. Liana is also a Co-Lead Pastor at Crown Point Community Church, which started The Giving Closet Thrift Shop. If you are interested in volunteering, or just want to say hi, Liana would love to hear from you!
The Giving Closet Promise
We aim to bless our community by:
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Providing an enjoyable and affordable shopping experience
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Reusing, recycling, and repurposing goods that would have otherwise gone to a landfill
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Providing opportunities to connect and give back by volunteering together
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Being a welcoming and accepting place for all shoppers, volunteers, and staff
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Partnering with local organizations for the good of our neighbourhood and city
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Using profits to meet needs and create positive change in local communities
Prices Matter
We strive to be the nicest and most affordable thrift store in Hamilton, and it is very important to us that our prices are affordable to all.
People Matter
We have a very diverse clientele and we value each person, whether they are a volunteer, shopper, staff member, or person in need who is struggling. Everyone is welcome at The Giving Closet.
Volunteers Matter
Volunteers are the lifeblood of The Giving Closet. We currently have around 80 volunteers who contribute to the work of the store. Our volunteer family includes students, seniors, newcomers to Canada, people wanting to give back, those seeking work experience, and people looking for community and something positive to do. We truly couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers. A huge thank you to our amazing volunteer family!
Stewardship & Sustainability Matter
All of the products that we sell have been donated. We do our very best to give donated items a new life and a new home, whether it is through affordable pricing, donating forward to other organizations, or recycling. Customers have thanked us for providing an enjoyable and affordable sustainable shopping option.
Though the goal of our store is to give to our community, the reality is that we also receive so much. We receive physical donations, but we also receive the gift of community from our shoppers and volunteers. It has been a blessing to build relationships, learn names, and hear people’s stories. It has been a rich 7+ years with many more to come, we hope! If you want to become part of our story as a shopper, volunteer, or donor, please check out the rest of the website or, even better, come visit us in person at 1162 Barton St. E.
If you have further questions, feel free to reach out by email or social media and we'll try to get back to you as soon as we can.