A different approach to secondhand shopping has come to Halifax’s North End in Richmond Yards, where every purchase supports hospice care and grief support for Nova Scotians. Hospice Halifax recently opened Encore, the non-profit’s secondhand store, to raise funds for the organization’s free, end-of-life care and community grief support programs.
Walking into the store, located at 2748 King Street, customers will find a unique range of clothing, accessories, footwear, houseware, and even furniture. “People can shop at Encore knowing that 100 per cent of their purchases directly support Hospice Halifax,” says Jocelyn Hamilton, Executive Director.
“People secondhand shop for a variety of reasons, and we’re really pleased to offer people a purposeful shopping option that continues to support their community after purchase.”
Every item in the store is sourced by community donations, and landlord Westwood makes it affordable for Encore to be located in Richmond Yards.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have supporters who feel strongly about the store’s mission,” says Andrew Boutlier, Store Manager. “People want to know that their everyday choices are making a positive impact, and the foundations of both Hospice Halifax and Encore are care and generosity.”
Connecting secondhand shopping to the care that Hospice Halifax provides in their ten bed residence on Franklyn Street may sound strange to some, but Hamilton explains that the two have more in common than one might think.
“We think of it like a cycle of care,” she says. “When someone makes a purchase at Encore, it’s a cycle of remembrance, renewal, and generosity.”
“We know that people care very deeply about their belongings. They’re pieces of someone’s history or connection to a loved one. With every donation, wherever it may come from, it’s a special chance to give that story a second act, carrying on and honouring a person’s legacy.”
Hamilton adds that Encore’s scaled pricing model is also based on the non-profit’s values around compassionate, accessible services. “We carry items that range from luxury brands to reliable everyday goods. We want Encore to be a place where people can enjoy finding higher-end items, and also where a mother can afford clothes for her children, or someone can buy clothes to start a new job.”
Learn more on the store’s social media pages: @Encorehfx on both Instagram and Tiktok, and Encore Halifax on Facebook. Hamilton also encourages people to visit Hospice Halifax’s website to learn more about the organization’s services.
“We’re excited to join the neighbourhood and hope that as people shop at Encore, they learn more about the free hospice care options and grief support programs that are available to them.”