The Mission Store's 60th Anniversary

Join us in-store (797 York Street) for our 60th Anniversary on Saturday, September 21, 2024! 

The celebration will be held between 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM. We will celebrate with cake and a short ceremony.

Don’t forget to give the Mission Store a browse — there’s always a treasure to be found! We are also open during regular hours (10 AM - 5 PM) for some weekend shopping.

This year, Mission Services of London's social enterprise, the Mission Store, is celebrating 60 years of service.

The Women’s Auxiliary to Mission Services of London started the Clothing Centre in 1964, which would eventually develop into the Mission Store as we know it today.

At the start, the Clothing Centre operated out of the Men's Mission. In the first year of offering services, the Clothing Centre distributed 28,352 articles of clothing for no cost (not including hats, shoes, handbags, and other miscellaneous accessories).

On September 29, 1966, the Women’s Auxiliary announced their purchase of 461 York Street for $18,000, and used the ground floor as the Clothing Centre.

The Clothing Centre operated using a voucher system, wherein vouchers were exchanged for free garments that the shopper could choose themselves. The Mission Store continues this program today, offering basic-needs items to thousands of individuals through the Emergency Voucher Program.

The need for clothing continued to grow, and the Mission Store grew in response. The Mission Store changed names (from the Clothing Store, to Used Clothing Store, to Twice Nice Thrift Mart, to Mission Store), and locations, although always within walking distance from Men's Mission.

Mission Services of London remains grateful to those who went before us, as we stand on the shoulders of their hard work.

We also continue to thank our volunteers. For 60 years, volunteers have been the pillar that keeps the Mission Store strong and accessible to men, women, and children in need.