A Little Bit of the Long History of Second Glance Clothing

A Charitable Organization

Leduc Alberta

Second Glance Clothing Ltd. is a Registered Not for Profit organization with a long local tradition beginning on December 10, 1980 when a group of residents began work to create a sustainable way to benefit the local community through the re-sale of donated items. 

Today, through generous donations, Second Glance accepts gently used items which are sold at the Second Glance retail store.  The proceeds, from sales of goods, provides the opportunity to provide grants back to local community organizations.

This year we celebrate 45 years of giving back to Leduc and Area.  

We dedicate this year to Linda Blumenthal who passed away earlier this year.  Although dearly missed, Second Glance will work to continue the strong, inclusive community foundation that has been built. 

It is only with the support of this wonderful community, we call home, that gave the Boards of Second Glance the ability to give back as much as we have. The organization is dedicated to continuing its mission of giving back to our community!

Without our community support Second Glance would not exist!

During the summer of 1980, Carol Allcock presented the idea of a thrift shop to Leduc’s Preventative Social Services, (now Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)) to support families with economical clothing.  A committee was established consisting of Carol Allcock, Elsie Johns, Carol Brennan, Randy Matlock, Rose-Marie Jackson, Isobel Behrens, Betty Calenso, Judy Riding and Myrtle Smyth and Second Glance opened its doors in October of 1980. By April of 1982 Second Glance began accepting donations and delivering the proceeds back to community organizations.  The first grant back to our community occurred on November 7, 1983 to establish the Life Line, which is now the Care Line, in the amount of $2090.00.

Second Glance has had several homes during its 45 years. The first was in the Gateway Centre Mall which now houses businesses such as Servus Credit Union, Evolution Sports, and 93.1 Radio. Subsequent moves to the former Western Wear store on Main Street, the Fish and Game location, the old McLeods Store, (Hugh Schneider building across from the Elevator), and finally to our present location at 5607B – 50 Street.

Second Glance appreciates the support of the business community in Leduc too! We have had businesses such as Komfolios, Poison Ivy and Butterfly Boutique donate brand name off season clothing to us. Ken’s Furniture and the Moussa families have always been there to support what we do. The Leduc Rep comes to the store each time Second Glance has Grant cheque presentations to make and 93.1 has given us the opportunity to talk about Second Glance on air. The Co-op, Canadian Tire, Leduc Goldsmiths and so many others have helped us help others and we are grateful.

A Board of Directors oversees the operation of Second Glance, while a Manager is responsible for the day to day operation of the store and the paid staff and volunteers. Over the years, Second Glance has worn many hats! We have served as a work site for groups such as LINX, the Work Experience programs of the Leduc Composite High School, worked with Victim’s Services, and served as a placement site for both the Fine Option Program and the Young Offenders programs for the Provincial Court systems. Second Glance also served as the home of the Friends of the Library for many years.

Second Glance operates a ‘Gifts in Kind’ program that is designed to assist those in extreme need (Referral from approved agencies is required). Examples of those that we assist in this area includes families fleeing spousal abuse, fire, or other catastrophic circumstances. Second Glance is part of the local emergency response team that assists when needed. Upon receiving a request from Slave Lake during their forest fires, we organized and sent boxes and boxes of books to children and adults. We were called to assist with the residents left homeless after the Prairie Building Fire and the Carrington fire, along with having 53+ families come through the store for assistance during the 2022 Fort McMurray forest fires. We are proud to be a part of the city’s recovery. The gifts in kind program again assisted those in need with the North West Territories assistance requests totaling $875.00 and other requests in the amount of $678.00. Second Glance has also given and/or lent clothes to the Leduc Composite High school for the many wonderful plays they put on. The RCMP have received sweatpants, shirts, and other clothing for use in their holding cells. Clothes have been either donated or lent to groups organizing fashion at senior homes as well.

One of the special events that has occurred at Second Glance for many years is the Mitten Tree. We have knitters and those who crochet drop off mittens, scarves, toques, socks and mittens for donation to those in need at Christmas. We have never known who these individuals are and we are sure some of those who started knitting for us are no longer able to do so, but others have stepped in and taken their place. The number of items that are donated each year varies from one to two hundred to several hundred. The Food Bank picks up those items for distribution at Christmas for those in need.

Since our incorporation recycling has always been something we just do automatically. Those items that cannot be sold due to their condition have been given or sold to agencies for their endeavors or recycled responsibly. We have worked with the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, the Canadian Diabetes Society and various private companies that recycle.

The Grant Program at Second Glance allows groups and agencies to apply for grants yearly, during the intake period, to assist with the programs they operate. We average approximately 25 applications from groups and agencies every year! Some of the groups that have received funds through Grants are the Leduc and District Food Bank, The Boys and Girls Club, Leduc Victim Services, FCSS for both Leduc City and County, The Edmonton and Camrose Women’s Shelters, Leduc Community Living Associations, LINX, Planeview and Cloverleaf Seniors Recreation Programs, and Rise Up.

The total amount that Second Glance has been able to give back to the community from the beginning has reached 

$1 880 746.00.

During our 45 year history the original mandate of providing affordable clothing and other items to the Leduc and area communities has remained the same. The support of the community we call home and work in has allowed us to not only provide reasonably priced items for families but to also support groups and agencies and those in extreme need. We are grateful for the support that allows us to help others.

Check us out on Facebook and Instagram for updates on how we will be celebrating 45 years of giving back!