RPM Thrift Store operates in Cambridge, Ontario as the retail arm of Redemption Prison Ministry, a faith based organization whose thrift operation exists to fund prison and correctional ministry programs rather than to generate profit for a private owner. The ministry runs two connected storefronts in the city: a main thrift store at 15 Water Street North stocking clothing and small housewares, and a dedicated furniture thrift store at 22 Main Street where larger items find a second home. Together the two locations give Cambridge shoppers a place to find secondhand clothing, furniture, and household goods while directly supporting a specific local cause, since proceeds go toward the ministry’s work with incarcerated individuals rather than into a corporate parent’s balance sheet.
The stores accept donations of clothing, furniture, and small housewares, though they do not take large appliances, mattresses, or building materials, a policy the ministry states clearly so donors can plan ahead rather than making a wasted trip. Because the operation is run primarily by volunteers, the organization encourages anyone with a large or unusual donation to call ahead at 519 623 2274 to confirm it can be accepted and to arrange drop off or pickup logistics, a courtesy that also helps the small volunteer team manage the flow of incoming goods.
What distinguishes RPM from a typical secular thrift chain is its explicit tie to prison ministry work. Redemption Prison Ministry uses the thrift stores as a sustainable funding source for programs aimed at supporting incarcerated people and helping with reentry and rehabilitation, meaning every purchase, whether a work shirt from the Water Street location or a secondhand dresser from the Main Street furniture store, contributes directly to that mission. This model, common among small faith based nonprofits but less common among larger regional thrift operations, gives Cambridge shoppers a values driven alternative to bigger national resale chains, with the added appeal of two specialized locations rather than one general store trying to do everything under one roof.
Hours at both RPM locations run Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4:30 pm, with Saturday hours that vary by location and season, and both stores are closed on Sundays. Because Saturday hours can shift, calling ahead is the safest way to confirm a location will be open before making a special trip, particularly for shoppers coming from outside the immediate downtown Cambridge area to browse the furniture selection.
For anyone furnishing a first apartment, refreshing a wardrobe on a budget, or simply looking to shop secondhand with a clear sense of where the money goes, RPM’s two Cambridge storefronts offer an accessible, volunteer run alternative to conventional thrift retail. RPM Thrift Store is a Cambridge, Ontario thrift and furniture resale operation run by Redemption Prison Ministry, where proceeds from secondhand clothing, housewares, and furniture sales directly fund prison ministry and rehabilitation programs.
