The Groves Hospital Volunteer Association (GHVA) has announced the expansion of its thrift shop retail operation through the acquisition of a new premises.
Effective June 2, GHVA assumes ownership of the former Ken Weeks Automotive Centre Ltd., 950 St. David Street North in Fergus, with an official opening date to be announced.
Officials say the move will provide the thrift shop with roughly triple the retail space of its current location, broadening the range of items it is able to accept and resell, including furniture. The new site will also have more parking, and an expanded and protected drop-off area for donations.
The shop has operated at 635 St. David Street North since 2000. Even then, space constraints prevented the acceptance of larger items.
These constraints have become more acute in recent years, as support from the community in the way of donations has at times nearly overwhelmed capacity.
It should be noted the purchase of the new property has been funded entirely by GHVA, independently of partners at the Groves Hospital Foundation, the trustees of all funds generously donated by the community to the hospital’s development and equipment programs.
None of these funds have been used in this purchase.
GHVA officials said they would like to recognize Ken Weeks (recently retired) and Paul Martin (of Edge Realty Solutions), “whose generosity and community spirit made the move possible.”
GHVA thrift and gift shops have made contributions of more than $2 million for the Hospital in the last 10 years.
