The Pender Island Community Service Society
Community Benefit
Our newly designed thrift shop building, envisioned to be a heart of our island community is more than a mere secondhand store. Be it by up-cycling or recycling, the organization/ store has a forty-year history of bringing the Pender community together. It is in fact, an opportunity shop where everything old is new again. The social health of the volunteers and community members is enriched by the fostering of social connections and inclusivity. In the semiannual gifting back of community grants and bursaries, the Nu-To- Yu has demonstrated, since 1983, that it has a deep understanding of and a continued responsibility for the Pender Island community. This is why it is a sustainable beacon, a community hub, and a place that fosters social connections and inclusivity. This project was born out of a deeply rooted understanding of the community’s needs, priorities, and aspirations, and it is poised to benefit every island resident in unique, impactful ways.
Community Need
Pender Island has nearly 3000 full-time residents with an additional 5000 part-time residents joining us in the summer months. Most of Pender’s population reside on North Pender, where the largest number of services and amenities are located. South Pender is more rural except for Bedwell Harbour, where there is a resort & marina. Over the past 5 years, the population growth has been greater than 20% and is expected to continue to grow at that rate. According to the Statistics Canada Census Profile for 2021, almost half of our residents are over 65 years old, and the prevalence of low income is approximately 15%. Given the remote location of Pender Island with respect to the available social services available in the greater Victoria area, there is a definite need for social support services in our remote community. This need can be divided into the following categories:
a. Senior Citizens: Supporting senior citizens on a limited income
b. Children: Providing clothing for children from low-income families
c. Community Involvement: Providing funding to community-based non-profit
organizations
d. Disaster Support: Providing disaster support to individuals and families in need
e. Education Funding: Providing bursaries to students to further their post-secondary
education
f. Accessibility: Increasing the level of accessibility to the new thrift store building
to allow people with mobility challenges to access the Nu-To-Yu store.
Community Benefit
At its core, the new thrift shop building is a testament to circular economics and sustainable living. In the process of creating the building, approximately 65 active volunteers and dozens of community members were involved in providing their input and participating in the project in various roles, from design consultations to construction. Also, the funding that has been generated for the construction building has come solely from the community in terms of sales at the Nu-To-You thrift store and donations from supportive islanders. This immediate involvement not only fosters a sense of ownership but also aids in the development of skills and community cohesiveness.
Currently, the Nu-To-You non-profit thrift store is open for 50 weeks a year with 12 hours a week for selling and 9 hours a week for scheduled donations.
Approximately, 12,000 people visit the store each year, which does not include the 600 people per year providing donations and the 1500 people who attend the annual silent auction. Overall, it is estimated that approximately 20,000 people benefit from the service provided.
For more information, and information about our budget, go to NEW BUILD under the heading MORE on this website.