Nu-To-Yu's New Community Building.

The Pender Island Community Service Society (PICSS), is planning the construction of a new community building for the Nu-to-Yu non-profit thrift store that will replace the current facility that has been in use since the 1980’s. The current facility is Pender Island’s old schoolhouse, built in 1902, which is located on Bedwell Harbour Road adjacent to the public library. The Society has been planning and preparing for a replacement building for the past ten years. Although the current building has served the Society well for the past forty years, it has limitations that make it untenable as a future location for the store. Over the past decade, it has become apparent that the building needs expensive repairs due to the age of the building. This not only affects the store’s ability to display and store items but also adversely impacts the working environment for the volunteers. Maintaining and operating an old building can present numerous challenges, particularly when it comes to issues like poor heating, poor cooling, pest control and cleanliness. Accessibility is also an issue; there is no handicap access at all in the current building. These difficulties arise due to the aging infrastructure, outdated systems and the accumulation of wear and tear over time. 

The NEW COMMUNITY BUILDING will be more centrally located adjacent to the Driftwood Shopping Centre.
 

The objective of this new facility is to: 

• Improve the working environment for volunteers and customers.
• Obtain more storage area for donated goods.
• Increase the type and variety of donated goods that can be accepted.
• Continue to allow all profits to be funneled back into community initiatives and support for families in need. 

New Building Description

The building will be approximately 6000 square feet, all of which will be zero level entry. The current building is 4,800 square feet with its many sheds and add ons. The rationale for the zero level entry is to simplify construction, to make it more accessible and to make it easier for the volunteers to move, display and store items in the store. To minimize the carbon footprint, it will be an energy efficient building to the maximum extent possible. The 1.5 acres on which the new facility will be built was very generously donated to the Nu To Yu by the owner of the Driftwood Centre, Davie Rae. The site has been cleared and the initial planning phase for the building is being completed with construction planned to start sometime this Fall. 

Funding

The Nu-to-Yu has managed to generate over 60% of the required $1.5 million required to build this new facility.  It still needs to source the remaining funding donations from private individuals or others in the community. Operated entirely by volunteers, there is very high community support for the Nu-To-Yu in principle. The Nu-To-Yu requires additional funding to cover the costs of building this new facility to better serve the community. 

Donations to the Building Fund will be gratefully accepted. E-transfers can be made to the Nu-To-Yu Building Fund: nutoyudonate@gmail.com
 

August 2024 Update 

Pender Island Community Service Society New Building Budget

The Society was gifted a 1.5 acre parcel of land adjacent to the Driftwood Shopping Centre by Davie Rae, owner of the Driftwood Centre on which to construct a new 6000 sq ft non-profit thrift store. Replacing the current facility at the Old School, built in 1902, the Nu-to-Yu has been planning a new facility for the past ten years.

 
Unfortunately, building costs over the past few years have risen considerably and the estimated building budget reflects these price increases.

The Society acquired the property in April, 2023.

The building construction budget - $1.5 million

Accumulated funds in the Building Account - $1.2 million

Funds needed to complete the building - $300,000