Page 14 - Westman Business 2018

14 THE BRANDON SUN • WESTMAN BUSINESS • OCTOBER 2018

Staff pose for a photo at the Adult & Teen Challenge Super Thrift store. (Douglas Portz Photography)
Thrift Store helps fight addictions in Westman

The Adult & Teen Challenge Super that we raise stay right here in the West- In addition to its proceeds supporting
Thrift store is not your regular thrift store. man area to help us pay for the programs the program, the Super Thrift store pro-
With more than 12,000 square feet of we run here for the women,” said Lowes. vides its participants with work experience.
retail space, it’s one of the city’s larger thrift Adult & Teen Challenge is a Chris- Even though they opened in July, the
stores, and is stocked by items that have tian organization that helps both men and Adult & Teen Challenge Super Thrift
been donated to the Adult & Teen Chal- women around the globe overcome addic- store’s grand opening was held on Septem-
lenge charity. tion and change their lives. Their centres ber 8th and Lowes said they were prepared.
The organization established itself are located in more than 125 countries “We were about to open and I said to
northwest of Brandon in 2008, and has op- worldwide. one of the girls, “I feel like we’ve got ev-
erated as a women’s centre since 2012. Their goal is to create locally sustainable erything but the kitchen sink.” The girl re-
An international faith-based live-in programs where men, women and families plied “Oh, we’ve got one of those upstairs.”
addictions program, the local centre is for can find lasting freedom from addiction The thrift store provides a great place
women only and was expanded a couple of and discover the life-changing power of for the women from the shelter to give
years ago to double in capacity to accom- Jesus Christ. back.
modate 16 students and four staff mem- The programs that Adult & Teen Chal- “They are part of the work force of the
bers. lenge offer here in Westman include addic- store.”
Kim Lowes, the director for the Adult tion prevention, recovery, and community It’s also a great way to boost their
& Teen Challenge Super Thrift store, also support groups for both addicts and family self-confidence as well help them begin to
runs the Adult & Teen Challenge Wom- members. Successfully recovered addicts interact with the community in a positive
en’s Shelter in Brandon that has the same often return to the centers to teach pro- way.
name. grams themselves, with first-hand knowl- The Adult & Teen Challenge Super
The thrift store’s profits go directly to edge and the idea to keep on giving back to Thrift store sells furniture, factory direct
funding the shelter whose objective is to the community. mattresses, housewares, clothes, tools,
better the lives of the women who have “The thing that most people are realiz- sports equipment, pet supplies, and more.
been struggling with addiction. The best ing is that addiction is the surface of the Check them out at 127 Seventh Street, and
part – it all stays within our local commu- whole thing. Underneath all of that is the support the community while you shop.
nity. hurt, the pain, the struggles, and that’s what
“All of the proceeds for the thrift store we really try and conquer,” Lowes said. » The Brandon Sun (Douglas Portz Photography)