A Roof Over Our Heads
2024 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
We have turned Strathcona County’s donated items into support for people in crisis for 40 years.
Now we need your help.
Immediate Need
$275,000
For roof repairs on our commercial building. We expect this critical work will make our facility last for the next 20 years.
County Clothes-Line Foundation (CCLF) through its social enterprise thrift store, has given back $2 million to the community.
Now the building that has housed our nonprofit thrift store for over a decade, is currently in desperate need of a new roof. We ask your support in helping us keep the roof over our heads and our community programs going.
County Clothes-Line
Foundation (CCLF)
Started by neighbors, supported by community, and
focused on the well-being for/in Strathcona County, the County Clothes-Line Foundation empowers change through community grants and local initiatives.
From humble beginnings as a free clothing exchange to our non-profit incorporation in 1984, CCLF has served the residents of Strathcona County for 40 years through its social enterprise thrift store.
Unlike some used merchandise stores, profits from the sale of goods from the County Clothes-Line thrift store goes back into the community.
But now our good works and legacy is at risk. The building that houses our non-profit thrift store is in desperate need of a new roof.
Funds needed to keep our social enterprise safe, and functioning will directly impact the Foundation’s ability to support the community.
Community Grants
The County Clothes-Line Foundation (CCLF) provides community grants twice a year to local not-for-profit organizations located in, and existing for, the benefit of Strathcona County residents.
We look for organizations with a strong volunteer component, broad community support, and a successful track record.
Groups receiving funding range from long established organizations like the Strathcona Food Bank and local Christmas Bureau, to newer initiatives such as Linking Generations, community art and music festivals, playgrounds, community leagues, parent groups, local sports clubs and much more.
I sincerely appreciate the continued support you show to Linking Generations!
– Debbie Sinclair, Executive Director Linking Generations Creating Strong and Vibrant Communities where youth and seniors THRIVE
I want to thank you again for the grant money for the iPads and Chrome books…for in-class use to kindergarten and grade 1 classes!
– Megan Barnes, Fultonvale School Advisory Council
Emergency Requisition Program
The County Clothes-Line Foundation has an Emergency Requisition Program to provide living essentials to those facing crisis in the County of Strathcona.This program partners with the Strathcona Food Bank, Safe Place, R.C.M.P. Victim Services, and Family and Community Services.
Through a requisition process, these organizations can request clothing and household items from the County Clothes-Line store for those in need. This program has also been available to provide assistance in major crisis situations such as the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016.
Apprenticeship Scholarships
Remember when you were facing the question in high school by ‘older adults’ “What will you do after Grade 12?” Perhaps back as far a kindergarten, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
The Scholarship program that the County Clothes-line Foundation Board developed focuses on students who are pursuing an education in the trades—the underlying strength of every community.
Do you realize there are more than fifty designated trades and occupations in the Alberta Apprentice Program? This means 80 per cent of students will complete their education on the job, building our community as they build their careers.
Community Cares Poverty
Reduction Initiative
The Community Cares fund provides assistance for Strathcona County residents requiring financial support in exceptional cases where a financial need is demonstrated and is not covered by other funding. Working in partnership with industry and other community groups, the Community Cares Fund has distributed on average $25,000 a year directly to county residents in financial crisis.
The need for Community Cares funding is assessed and determined by Strathcona County Family Community Service Solutions Navigators and referred to CCLF for fund disbursement. Supports include but are not limited to: clothing, food, medication, infant supplies, transportation, essential and emergent home repair, and outstanding bill payment up to a maximum of $750.00 per individual per family per year.
The program is carefully administered and meeting a need for vulnerable county residents not being provided through any other public programs. Since the beginning of 2020 the program has seen a significant increase in referrals.
I really appreciated the support, and it lifted a load off me, and I wasn’t evicted as a result. I’m going to do some good deeds for others in the spirit that County Clothes-Line had helped me.
I’m very grateful for the support of County Clothes-Line as this meant my husband could return home to a warm home. It felt good knowing I could do this with the support of County Clothes-Line and friends who stepped in to help.
While words are usually easy for me to find, I’mhaving difficulty describing how I feel… certainly grateful, appreciative, loved, warm and much, much more relaxed. “Thank You” seems inadequate to express my deep gratitude to you for your help while in my time of need.
CCLF History
1978
Anne Ryan, Family Living Coordinator with the Preventative Social Services (PSS) helps form Learning and Individual Enrichment Board (L.I.F.E.)
1983
L.I.F.E. Board sees community need for informal clothing exchange but surprised as donations accumulate “Bring a bag, take a bag and leave one dollar”
1984
L.I.F.E. Board incorporates under the Societies Act of Alberta as Strathcona County L.I.F.E. Education Council Society, store opens April 17th with Florence as its manager.
Year 1 – Money raised $2000 given to Social Services and $3,000 in Innovative Funding
1985
Store shares space with the Strathcona Food Bank (SFB)
1987
Store expands moves with SFB to new location Sioux Road
1989
Society changes name to the Learning Individual and Family Enrichment Foundation
1993
The Foundation becomes the County Clothes-Line Foundation (CCLF)
1996
Foundation and Food Bank move to new location on Sioux Road
1998
Food Bank relocates and CCLF expands store hours
2000
Receives Community Spirit Award from Robin Hood Association
2009
25th Anniversary Foundation reaches $1 Million in community grants given
2012
Moves to current location 201 Athabascan Avenue
2015
Receives Mayor’s award – Pride of Strathcona Awards
2016
New mission statement “Empowering Change by supporting Local Community….”
Foundation Introduces Community Cares Fund – Poverty Reduction Initiative
2018
Partners with various groups to expand reach of Community Cares Fund
2020
Receives COVID 19 relief support from United Way Capital Region to assist Strathcona County Residents
2021
Foundation reaches $2 Million in community grants and emergency supports given
Why now?
Now more than ever our programs and services are needed.
• Emergency clothing and household item requests are increasing
• The need for Community Cares assistance for those in crisis is growing
• Community groups struggling to reestablish activities post pandemic are seeking supports
• Local youth entering the trades continue to require assistance
• Cost of living surges continue to affect vulnerable seniors and families
Now the cost of roof repairs to our social enterprise will directly impact
the Foundation’s ability to support the Community.
Investing in community
strengthens community
Recycle / Reuse / Repurpose
When we receive items at County Clothes-Line, they are first sorted into what we can and cannot accept.
Acceptable items are then thoroughly gone through before being priced and placed on display.
Once a customer sees an item they love, they can purchase it and take it home, thus putting fewer items into our landfills and giving some amazing finds new life!
CCLF receives approximately 1.4 million pounds of product per year from County
Residents CCLF store resells 60% of what it receives
CCLF divests 28% to other organizations or recycling 12% directed to land fill
Resold in store
Divested to other organizations or recycling
Redirected to landfill
Vision
The County Clothes-line Foundation supports social improvement and well-being for/in Strathcona County.
Mission
Empowering change by supporting local community through grants and other initiatives.