Adult & Teen Challenge (ATC) continues to transform and save lives. Now people in Winkler will have the chance to transform their wardrobes and homes while saving money and supporting ATC's work in southern Manitoba. 

A new thrift store will be popping up at 390 1st Street in Winkler. The 'Super Thrift Store' will open in May and is being run by Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada. 

Development Director Daniel Emond says, "I remember close to 14 years ago I personally was knocking on the door of someone's home in Winkler, sharing my story of how my life had been radically changed by attending this residential program that teen challenge had, and how there was hope. I remember a family praying with me in Winkler, that Teen Challenge would come to Winkler, and that there would be hope for the people there that were struggling."

In 2016 the organization gained office space in Winkler so they could do outreach through their addiction programs. 'Living Free' is a twelve-step program, and 'Concerned Persons' is for whole families that have a member struggling with addiction, both of which are run in Winkler.

The idea for a thrift store in the Pembina Valley came when Emond and other organization members attended centres in Portland, Oregon where they saw how successful the stores were.

He says, "they worked so well with not only raising funds for our programs but providing vocational training that's very very valuable for women and for the men that we're getting help for their addiction with us."

The new Winkler store will be part of a full circle story. Emond said that a local resident who went into ATC's treatment program and graduated will now be coming back home to help start the new ministry. 

Current needs

They have a few needs before opening day including people willing to help with managing, working, or volunteering.

"Our biggest need is finding the right house that we would call our teen challenge graduate house. And that would be for graduates that graduate the year-long program that is re-entering back into their community in the Pembina Valley," says Emond.

There are currently four graduates from the area who are hoping to move back into the community and would also benefit from this graduate house.

For those looking to help in other ways, there is a donation box on the parking lot. They hope to fill the store will all of your thrifting essentials from clothing, to furniture, to toys, and tools.

"We did our first store in Thunder Bay, Ontario, that was two years ago. Then we launched a 'Super Thrift' store in Brandon, that was a year ago. And now our third 'Super Thrift Store' will be opening . . . The wonderful people at Winkler Fabrics decided that they would relocate to a building across the street to allow us to move into that building," says Emond.