DIY Community Health Timmins acquires thrift store

DIY Community Health Timmins, a non-profit, has acquired Jan’s Closet Thrift Store to improve services and form partnerships with other small businesses.

With a building permit already on display, DIY Community Health Timmins is getting ready to expand.

It recently acquired Jan’s Closet thrift store, and soon, it will have a new name to reflect the vision DIY Community Health Timmins has for the new space.

“We know from being in this part of the neighbourhood for a while now that there’s, there’s a lot of people who are living in poverty,” said Jason Sereda, coordinator of DIY Community Health Timmins.

“But there are also just a lot of people who might face barriers to accessing some of the great events and some of the great things that we have here in Timmins.”

Sereda said they want to “create a safe, accessible way for people to do that, share their strengths, share their talents, get together with their friends, meet new people.”

“It just seemed like the right opportunity and the right time to move forward with a little bit more of our program expansion.”

Welcoming place

The intent is to design a welcoming place for people to gather and explore opportunities, learn new skills, engage in art and also work towards employment.

“We’re going to be creating a cafe that’s very much geared towards that idea of artist collaboration, musician collaboration, community collaboration, and just a safe place for people to come together and work on projects together,” said Sereda.

“I encourage people to come by, check out the store and if they’re interested in participating in the cafe or the idea of an artist collective, share your ideas with us.”

Owl’s Nest and Bound and Twisted are two local businesses that believe in what DIY Community Health wants to achieve.

Resonates with people

“I think this place is really open to seeing different opportunities and exploring what resonates with people, what they’re looking for and drawing from a variety of different people,” said Michelle Mailloux, holistic wellness coach with Owl’s Nest.

“I’m bringing the art that I do with Artful Expressions through Owl’s Nest as well as movement practices and somatic healing … Also, looking at arts through an expressive creative process instead of focusing on you know what it is that we’re all making.”

Sereda said revenues generated from the thrift shop and other enterprises will be invested in DIY Community Health Timmins’ community programming.

He plans to have the renovations completed by May or June.