Originally published in the Bird’s Eye
A year ago, Hannah Rohan and Shelby Mitchell stood outside a paper-covered storefront in Quathiaski Cove, grinning in front of a hand-painted sign: Thrift Store Grand Opening, Saturday, May 17. It was one of my first real cover stories as the Bird’s Eye’s new editor — two Quadra-raised locals who came home with a vision, a shared love of thrifting, and one legendary bonding bike trip behind them.
The idea had started as a garage-based pop-up and snowballed fast. When a commercial space opened up in the heart of the Cove, between Kameleon and the library, they jumped. The shop would carry everything: vintage clothing, homewares, tools, kids’ clothes, collectibles, gardening supplies, the occasional power tool. Prices from 25 cents to $100 and up, with a careful eye on keeping things actually affordable.
One year later, they just cut the cake — and this week, Quadra Island Thrift released their first annual report. What follows is drawn from that report and from the team themselves.
In their first year the shop sold 30,487 items. Not everything found a home on the shelves — so the team made sure it found one somewhere else. Over the winter, a volunteer picked up clothing weekly and brought it to shelters, harm reduction sites, and a women’s transition centre in Campbell River. Warm layers went through the ICAN food distribution program. Personal care products went to the foodbank. Ceramics went to a local mosaic group. Most recently, linens have started going to MARS wildlife rescue.
The store also generated enough to give back directly. After two rounds of community input, they donated over $2,100 to the Children’s Centre’s new roof, over $1,300 to the foodbank, and over $500 to Kids’ Pottery with Katie — drawn from year-one income, the pay it forward program, and the full proceeds of the May 16th anniversary party.
The pay it forward program deserves its own moment. It’s a community cash pool: anyone can contribute, anyone can draw from it at the till. In 2025 alone, the overflow funded $620 worth of gift cards distributed
through the foodbank and the Christmas community lunch.
They’ve also partnered with Quadra Literacy twice now, hosting the popular Socks for Literacy fundraiser in-store and making the socks more accessible than ever. Pro tip: they’re currently for sale in the shop.
They hosted a fundraiser for ICAN’s community fridge, contributed to a raffle for Quadra Senior Housing, and have given large gift cards to locals who lost belongings in emergencies. Last summer they ran a zucchini library — locals could (gleefully) drop off oversized zucchinis so kids without gardens could join the Harvest Happenings zucchini boat races, which were easily the most popular and hilariously creative event over the day.
Behind the scenes, volunteers have spent the winter mending wool sweaters by hand, tie-dyeing donated clothing, and silk-screening the store’s merch line onto pieces pulled straight from the donation pile.
Of all the incredible finds I’ve pulled out of that shop, I think the mint condition 1960s pink tweed two-piece skirt suit takes the prize — though I haven’t found the right occasion yet. I’m thinking we need to create one… I’m seeing a wear-your-best-QIT-findyou-have-nowhere-else-to-wear event in our collective futures…
Coming up this summer: a free youth upcycling course called Thrift 2 Fashion. Register at quadrarec.recdesk.com — search “thrift 2 fashion.” An upcycled fashion show is planned for spring 2027!
These two have built something that gives back at every turn, and they’ve done it with care, authenticity, humour, and serious hustle. I’m a fan.
Find them at quadraislandthrift.ca, or just walk into the Cove and follow the turtle.
Links of Interest:
All images except the turtle courtesy Melissa McKenny; Screenshot of the turtle taken from the Quadra Island thrift website