Treasures are found every day at thrift stores, but a recent find at the Salvation Army鈥檚 store on Third Avenue in Prince Rupert is being called a 鈥渂lessing.鈥�
On April 10, a woman was walking by the storefront when the display in the window caught her eye. The mannequins were wearing her family鈥檚 regalia 鈥� which had been stolen three years before.
鈥淲e immediately took it out of the window, locked it in the office until all the channels were followed to make sure it got back to the right people,鈥� store manager Roma Dawe said. The display had only been set up 20 minutes before the woman walked by.
鈥淭oday we get to return it,鈥� Dawe said at the thrift store the next day while waiting for the family to arrive. 鈥淥h, it鈥檚 a wonderful feeling. It鈥檚 like I get goosebumps. Wow.鈥�
When she first saw the donations, Dawe said she asked herself, 鈥淲hy would somebody donate this? It鈥檚 precious.鈥�
READ and WATCH MORE:
The hand-sewn pieces include a vest, button blanket, tunics and fur-trimmed boots, all complete with delicate First Nations designs.
鈥淚鈥檓 just really glad it鈥檚 going back where it belongs,鈥� Dawe said.
The woman鈥檚 cousin, Oliver Stewart, came to take his family heirlooms home. His mother was the one who made many of the regalias that were found.
When asked if Stewart thought he would see his mother鈥檚 handiwork ever again, he said, 鈥淣o, never. I didn鈥檛 ever think I would. It means a lot.
鈥淚 was 10 years old when she made this,鈥� he said with the button blanket in his hands and tears in his eyes. 鈥淚鈥檇 just like to say thank you, guys.鈥�
Lieutenant Sabrina Silvey, the corps officer for the Prince Rupert Salvation Army, said, 鈥淚t was absolutely heartwarming to know that something so precious was taken away and we could return it. That doesn鈥檛 happen very often. It鈥檚 a good story, and I鈥檓 glad we were a part of it. It鈥檚 a blessing.鈥�
READ and WATCH MORE:
keili.bartlett@thenorthernview.com
Like us on and follow us on
