Les Petits Frères has opened a new solidarity thrift store in the Mile-End, adding a third location as the holiday shopping season begins.
The organization says the shop will sell second-hand goods at affordable prices, with all proceeds going toward programs that support socially isolated seniors in the city.
“Everything you see in this store comes from donations by generous Montrealers. They drop things off every day at our Guilford Street boutique —where our donation center is,” said store manager Mélodie Renaud on Friday.
“It’s more than a thrift store,” said Catherine Harel-Bourdon, CEO of Les Petits Frères. “It’s for a mission and our mission is to help seniors, isolated seniors.”
The group notes that nearly 70 per cent of the seniors it assists, known as “Great Friends”, are women, all over the age of 75.
“We have some home friendly visits. We have some phone calls. We have some activities with small cake and cafe and we’re going to have a lot of activities around the time of Christmas,” said Harel-Bourdon.
Les Petits Frères already operates two boutiques in the Plateau-Mont-Royal, opened in 1981 and 2023. Together, they have generated more than $568,000 in direct support for the charity’s mission.
“We open a third store because it’s important for us to have our own money coming from these donations and it’s important for our clients because they like to reuse and recycle.”
The new project is driven by about 40 volunteers each year, and the organization says it hopes the Mile-End store will boost both social and environmental impact.
“This is really a team effort — from employees to volunteers. Everyone plays a role, from the person welcoming donations to the one making sure items look great on display. It takes the whole team to make this happen,” added Renaud.
