Niagara-on-the-Lake's Newark Neighbours thrift store closed for semi-lockdown, food bank remains open

With new guidelines in place for companies in Ontario due to current spike in COVID-19 instances, Niagara-on-the-Lake's Newark Neighbours have needed to shut the doorways of its thrift retailer to the general public this month, a lot to the heartache of its employees and volunteers.

Susan Sparrow-Mace, the group's head of operations, stated they closed the thrift retailer the week of Jan. 3 after provincial authorities introduced it might be limiting indoor gatherings for retail settings to 50 per cent capability, following a "tsunami" of COVID-19 instances introduced on by the Omicron variant.

Underneath new restrictions, Sparrow-Mace stated their already-small constructing — which hosts each the meals financial institution and thrift retailer — is barely allowed to have 5 folks inside, together with employees. This wasn't sufficient, she stated, to permit them to function each companies, forcing the thrift retailer closure.

"We're all very disenchanted," she stated. "Our clients have been calling us too, as a result of they miss us."

She stated they hope to reopen the thrift retailer as soon as the semi-lockdown is over — at present that is set for Wednesday, Jan. 26 — however could have to remain closed longer relying on what occurs with the pandemic subsequent, and any new choices from the province.

"Now we have to be very cautious," she stated. "We do not need (our volunteers) getting COVID."

When it was open, the thrift retailer not solely gave folks in want a spot to purchase reasonably priced clothes, footwear and home goods, but in addition allowed Newark Neighbours to become profitable to fund the meals financial institution. With out the thrift retailer, Sparrow-Mace stated they've needed to depend on meals and monetary donations.

"We do have a really loyal group who helps us," Sparrow-Mace stated. "Once we're in want, by some means, we get what we want. We're simply fortunate that means."

Newark Neighbours' meals financial institution continues to be working, open Monday to Friday. Sparrow-Mace stated they've seen a rise in demand for his or her companies because the pandemic started. 

"We have had many, many new households who, with out COVID, wouldn't want to return right here," she stated.

First opened in 1971, Newark Neighbours' meals financial institution simply celebrated 50 years of being in operation. Sparrow-Mace stated the crew's aim this yr is to discover a new area to name house: after 30 years of working out of the identical area on 21 John St. E., they've "outgrown" the placement.

"We love the place we're, however we simply cannot keep," she stated. "We're simply splitting on the seams."

At present, she stated they don't have any new leads on a brand new area, however are open to all solutions. She stated they want a spot that is not less than 2,000 sq. ft, has ground-floor accessibility and a separate entrance for the meals financial institution, to present purchasers privateness.