They came early for deals, but being part of the store's official grand opening wasn't something customers bargained for.

Close to 30 people were outside the new Salvation Army Thrift Store on 43rd Avenue beside BDM Motorsports in Vernon's Midtown Mall for the store's opening Friday, Jan. 10.

Store manager Bridget Westcott came from inside and informed those in the lineup that they would be welcomed in at 11 a.m. to get them out of the falling snow, but they wouldn't be able to shop until after the store's official grand opening ceremonies.

By the time the ceremony finished at 11:20 a.m., the crowd inside the store had nearly doubled, and everyone was ready to shop, including Vernon-Lumby MLA Harwinder Sandhu, one of the handful of dignitaries on hand for the official opening.

"My family and I wholeheartedly support thrifting (shopping at thrift stores). I've done it when times have been tough in my personal life," said Sandhu, a former nurse before entering provincial politics. "In fact, I notice some blinky white nursing scrubs over there (pointing to the racks of clothes) so I may be on leave now, but I have two daughters working."

Sandhu said when she became MLA in 2020, she would go clothes shopping first at thrift stores to help support her community, and related a tale of how she found two blazers, $8 each but 50 per cent off, as she prepared to commute to Victoria.

"Those two blazers that I bought got me the most compliments," smiled Sandhu. "One matched with one of the ministers. I'm not sure how much she spent but my blazer was from the Vernon Salvation Army Thrift Store and I was rocking it."

The former thrift store on 24th Street, near Walmart, will soon serve as the Salvation Army's new food bank, and proceeds from the thrift store sales will go toward Salvation Army projects.

Vernon city councillor Kari Gares is one of seven local citizens who serves on the Community Council of the Salvation Army, who give insight as to the community's needs to the Sally Ann as part of its board. Gares served as emcee for the grand opening and first introduced Mayor Victor Cumming.

"Each one of these type of projects is critical to the community," said Cumming. "The Salvation Army has more than 100 years in Vernon, and provides a mix of things. This idea of being able to provide a service and surpluses back to other activities is a critical function of which they play."

Vernon realtor Martin von Holst also serves on the Community Council. He told the crowd about the correlation between the food bank and the new thrift store.

"There was a big need for the food bank, so we began to look for a place to find for the food bank, but we could not find a suitable place," said von Holst. "The (Salvation Army) church gym has housed the food bank for a long time and is a suitable space. But when we found this location, the decision was made to move the food bank warehouse to the old thrift store.

"We all wish there wasn香蕉视频直播檛 a need for a food bank, but it香蕉视频直播檚 a reality. A reality in the low income bracket in our community. We need it and need it in an expanded way."

Vernon Salvation Army Community Church Corps Officer Lt. Neil Thompson, along with his wife, Jennifer, was still de-stressing from the store's preview night which had ended 15 hours earlier, and drew a crowd of more than 150. The stores cash registers, chuckled Thompson during his speech Friday, were still not working 30 minutes before the start of the preview.

Thompson said there would be no major issues in moving the church's food bank from its downtown central location to the city's north end.

"We won香蕉视频直播檛 be providing transportation but we did our research," said Thompson. "The new food bank is located on a bus loop, and many of our food bank users have vehicles and can get to north end of town. We thought through all situations, and determined it was feasible to get to the north end of town quite simply."

North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold congratulated the Salvation Army's leadership and Community Council for making the new thrift store and food bank happen.

"It is your vision and forward thinking that is making a difference in people's lives today, and will provide even better services in the future," said Arnold. "We look forward to the next celebration when the new food bank will be officially opened."

Renovations to the old thrift store facility are expected to begin in February, and the new food bank is expected to open in May or June.

Jennifer Thompson concluded the grand opening ceremonies with a prayer.