Tucked into three separate storefronts across Richmond, British Columbia, RAPS Thrift Store is the retail arm of the Regional Animal Protection Society, a no-kill animal welfare charity that has made this city home to one of the largest cat sanctuaries in Canada. Rather than a single shop, RAPS runs a small network under one banner: Mama Karen’s Korner at 8160 Cook Road across from Richmond Centre, the Animal Hospital Thrift Store at 9040 Francis Road near the Francis and Garden City intersection, and the Cat Sanctuary Thrift Store at 8260 Granville Avenue east of No. 3 Road. All three are open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Mama Karen’s Korner staying open an extra hour until 6 p.m., making it easy for Richmond shoppers to build a weekly thrifting circuit around errands in the city center.
Shelves at each location turn over constantly thanks to a steady stream of community donations, and shoppers can expect to find household goods, small appliances, furniture, collectibles, antiques, jewelry, books, DVDs, sporting equipment, and seasonal decor rotating through the racks. Because inventory depends entirely on what neighbors bring in, no two visits look the same, which is part of the appeal for regulars who treat the stores as a hunting ground for one-of-a-kind finds rather than a predictable retail experience. The stores do have to draw a line somewhere, so mattresses, large appliances, old computers, and broken items are not accepted as donations, keeping the focus on items that can be resold quickly and safely. For larger furniture purchases, staff can arrange delivery, and anyone with questions about drop-offs or purchases can reach the team directly at 604-242-1825 or by email.
What sets RAPS Thrift Store apart from a typical secondhand shop is where the money goes. Every dollar earned at the register is funneled straight back into the care of animals, supporting veterinary treatment, shelter operations, and rescue work carried out by the Regional Animal Protection Society. Shopping here is effectively a form of ongoing donation: a used lamp or a stack of paperback novels becomes part of the budget that keeps a cat sanctuary running and injured or abandoned animals fed and treated. That mission-driven model has earned the organization recognition from the local community, including recent honors naming it among the city’s top community organizations and top gift shops, a reflection of how deeply the thrift stores have woven themselves into Richmond’s everyday shopping habits.
For anyone in Richmond looking to declutter a home while supporting a cause, the RAPS Thrift Store locations offer a simple, no-appointment-necessary way to do both: bring in clean, gently used items during store hours, or come browse to see what other Richmond residents have passed along. The combination of three walkable neighborhood locations, daily hours, and constantly refreshed secondhand inventory makes it a practical stop for bargain hunters, while the underlying cause gives every purchase a bit of extra weight. In short, RAPS Thrift Store is Richmond’s community-powered secondhand shop network where every purchase directly funds the rescue, shelter, and veterinary care of animals through the Regional Animal Protection Society.
