Good as New Shop Supports Rural Christian Churches and Community

An ecumenical initiative started by four Christian churches in a rural Alberta town east of Edmonton continues to meet a community need for affordable clothing and household goods more than three decades later.

At the 31st Annual Meeting of the Good as New Shop, held in the first week of November, donations of $6,000 each were presented to St. John’s Anglican Church, Sedgewick United Church, Bethania Lutheran Cemetery and the Community Church of the Nazarene.

Receiving the donation on behalf of St. John’s, Sedgewick was Sandra Rosiechuk, rector’s warden, and a Good as New Shop volunteer for eight years.

“Our members that are able, gather on Monday and Thursday mornings to clean the shop, prepare donations for sale, and sometimes load the truck to take the items we cannot use to other centers,” says Rosiechuk. “We take turns serving customers three afternoons a week.”

The Good as New Shop operates out of the former Bethania Lutheran Church. Volunteers also shovel snow, mow grass, and take items to collection bins for recycling.

After building operating costs (utilities, repairs, etc.), the leftover income is divided among the four churches.

Pictured from left: Lois Polege, president, Good as New Shop; Joan Djos representing Bethania Lutheran Church; Betty Smith representing Sedgewick United Church; Sandra Rosiechuk representing St. John's Anglican Church; Helen Whitten, treasurer, Good as New Shop; Doug Webb, pastor, Sedgewick Community Church of the Nazarene. Photo: MaryLou Rawluk